There's a dirty little secret many of us think but rarely acknowledge openly. It's simply this: Working for a non-profit corporation as opposed to a commercial entity is often more emotionally draining, frustrating and ultimately soul-killing. Of course, this is counter-intuitive. One might expect that working in a cubicle for, say, The American Cancer Society would fill you with a deep and abiding sense of purpose, whereas working for, say, Monsanto might not. And yet, my own informal mental inventory of friends and associates suggests that just the opposite to be true. The folks working in the for-profit realm are, by and large, much happier with their jobs.
So today, I'm wondering, why that might be. Here are a few possibilities.
1. Your frustration quickly becomes my frustration.
Non-profits tend to attract more "frustrated artists" to their staffs. These folks carry an underyling frustration around with them -- frustration at not being paid to make their art -- which they then can't help but carry into every project, meeting or task at work, thereby "infecting" the rest of us with their bad outlook.
2. Too many cooks spoil the soup.
When big decisions require board approval, risk-taking leadership is stifled. In the for-profit world, a guy or gal can start a business, run it in one direction, answering only to profitability. In the not-for-profit sector, big ideas often get watered down or stopped altogether in the monthly board meeting, at which fear often trumps bold vision.
3. Running the race on less fuel hurts more.
Non-profits tend to be more cash-poor and penny-pinching. The result: simple day-to-day items like sodas, paperclips and phone bills might be counted and monitored more closely than in the for-profit world where there's an inherent understanding that a company must spend money in order to make money.
4. Profit as a goal is easier to understand than a mission statement.
Take a look at your favorite non-profit's mission statement and you're likely to need to re-read it aloud in order to understand precisely what's at play. When everyone working on a team understands (and embraces) the goals of the larger organization, work is more fun. When those goals remain clouded in mystery, it's harder to get excited.
What do you think? Have I missed the most obvious reason this might be? Or do you simply not buy the underlying assumption behind this post? Let me know.
