Learn how to get out of SURVIVAL MODE

Nonprofit Women Leaders Do Not Have To Stay Stuck In Survival Mode

As a woman leading in a nonprofit many of these thoughts may go through your head daily:

• Just get me through today, please!
• Just get me through this meeting!
• Just get me through this project!
• Just get me through this trip!

These phrases are all signs you might be stuck in survival mode as you lead, manage or supervise your nonprofit team.

If you are all too familiar with these phrases and want to change that, keep reading. I am going to show you how to move from just surviving to thriving in both leadership and life!

Understanding The Surviving to Thriving Continuum for Nonprofit Leaders

Sadly, far too many women leader in nonprofits regularly recite similar lines like "Just get me through today!" Regardless of the version, each of these mantras is a red flag signalling that you might be in survival mode. We've all been there at some point or another. 
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Survival mode becomes a problem when you live there, rather than visit there.

There will always be busy times. Leaders are constantly involved in the ebb and flow of new projects, the shifts of contractual expectations, annual budget cycles, performance reviews, grant proposals or contract renewals. It's the job. There is no way around it.

But as you begin to learn how to ditch survival mode, I am not talking so much about work itself. Instead, I am focusing on your attitude towards the work, how you balance your workload, and how the work impacts you and your relationship with your work. 

How that all affects you falls on a continuum. So let's first look at opposite ends of the spectrum.
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How to get out of survival mode!
A guide for women leading in nonprofits

The Left Side of the Continuum: Survival Mode

Survival mode is characterized by fear. You are always afraid of falling apart, dropping the ball or losing it emotionally. You are barely hanging on, just getting by or just trying to stay alive. 

• In survival mode, it feels like everything is a battle, and you must suffer through it or endure the storm. As a result, you have little energy and are negative, cynical or openly apathetic. Perhaps you've found yourself muttering "Whatever!" a little too frequently.

Those in survival mode tend to feel isolated and alone. It doesn't feel like anyone cares about you or that you have anyone on your team. It often seems like "they" are out to get you.

When I was in survival mode, I honestly hated a few people and loathed a couple of others. I always felt like they were ready to throw me under the bus!

This end of the spectrum, survival, is marked by crisis management, putting out fires and only day-to-day sustainability. Lord knows you can't last like this forever. Burnout is knocking on your door.

The Right Side of the Continuum: Thriving

On the right end of the continuum, the thriving mode is characterized by passion. You bloom and flourish as you learn new things and take on engaging projects. To many, it is an adventure with a purpose. You are blooming and flourishing as you learn new things and take on engaging projects. 

Those in thriving mode tend to feel confident, courageous and resilient.
It isn't that people at this end of the continuum don't encounter challenges; the difference is that they are confident they can handle challenges. 

When I moved into the thriving mode, I was eager to go to work, felt like I was doing meaningful work and could say I was stretched, but not to the point of snapping.

This end of the spectrum, thriving, is marked by feelings of being engaged, supported and connected. Leaders in thriving mode feel like they belong to a broader community of support and feel they are making a positive impact through their work.

It's usually not black or white

​Rarely are any of us entirely at one end of the spectrum. We are likely at some point in between. We ebb and flow daily. Depending on where you are, whom you interact with, and the day's agenda, you can shoot from one end of the continuum to the other quickly. As such, most of us sit somewhere along the surviving to thriving continuum, moving around various points in the middle.

The Middle of the Continuum: Coping Mode 

In the center of the surviving to thriving continuum is what I call coping mode. You are doing more than barely getting by, but you're not feeling so alive that you want to yell from the mountaintops about how much you love your job. Instead, you go to work and have some good days, lots of so-so days and a few insane days. 

• The coping mode can also be thought of as maintaining. You're doing good enough, the best you can or at least less than bad. You exist. 

Some leaders are bored in the middle. There is no challenge, no pull or drive to use your skills and talents fully. Often it's a sign you have been in the same position for longer than you should have been.

• In this coping mode, many leaders tolerate, settle, or comply with less-than-stellar workplace environments, teams, and bosses. Things aren't good, but not so bad that you feel urged to rock the boat

When I was in coping mode, I felt emotionally flatlined. I didn't feel a lot of excitement or joy. Instead, it felt more like I was running around the same hamster wheel day after day. I had a few friends to connect with that would let me vent, but not enough support to move the needle forward.
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Coping mode ranges from short-term stability, meaning you could go on like this for a few months, to a way of life. Sadly, many women leaders believe this is just the way it is, and they don't think they can change it. So instead of a period before things move one way or the other, leaders stay in coping mode for most of their careers.

​3 Steps to Move you from Surviving to Thriving as a Nonprofit Leader

How can you, the nonprofit leader move from survival to thriving as you lead? The truth is you can move from surviving to coping to thriving at work and in life. You have a choice. You do not have to stay stuck in your current mode forever. For you to move forward along the continuum, there are three key things you need to do.
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1) Recognize where you are on the continuum

Grab the guide to get you out of survival mode. Use it to assess where you land regularly. Awareness is always the first step to change. Seeing it in "black and white" can sometimes provide the catalyst you need to make some changes.

Also, notice where or when you tend to slip into survival mode. Is it a particular time of year? 

• Do you find yourself in survival mode whenever you start a new program or hire a new person? 
• Do you notice movement towards thriving when you get involved in a particular committee or project that excites you? 

The answers to these questions all increase your awareness and become keys that can be used to move to the right of the continuum. ​

Do you want to know where you land on the Surviving to Thriving Continuum?

Get the Guide

2) Get clear on where you want to be - Your target

​Change takes time and effort. You will need to be intentional about making the change. To help you, create goals that you are aiming for. I call this your Thriving Target!
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Thriving is growing and being challenged in a good way. It is about doing meaningful work yet maintaining balance. You will need to get clear on what that looks like specifically for you.

3) Create a plan to move you from surviving to thriving 

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To move to the right and thrive, you must create new habits. Your current habits are keeping you stuck. You've likely been sitting at the edge of survival mode for quite a while. You know it well. It's become a way of life. 
You have developed damaging habits to cope with lack of sleep, missed meals, and limited time for yourself and your family. 
You know how to get the critical things done with a hectic schedule at the office and have a system in place for ensuring you meet everyone's basic needs, but not much more. 
You habitually put off reading that book, taking that personal development course or going to that training you are passionate about because it's just not that important. Oh, but my dear, it is!!! You are worth it. 
To thrive at work and in life, you must create new habits around self-care, self-reflection and self-improvement.

 Do you want to know where you land on the Surviving to Thriving Continuum? 

Get the Guide

Be gentle but persistent as you develop new habits to move towards thriving in leadership and life

​This is going to take time and effort. But please don't think you have to do it all alone! I'm on your team. Each week I teach you the daily steps you need to take and the mindset shifts you need to make to increase your competence, feel more confident and THRIVE in leadership and life!​