How do we better use our resources to change more lives?
John Engle Associates
Doing Good Better
The Dilemma
We are aware of great disparities in our world, our country, perhaps even in our own communities. We want to share our resources—time, skills, money, etc.—with people in need in ways that make significant and lasting improvements. While we want to effect individual lives, we also want to contribute more deeply to sustainable change that addresses the roots of the problems.
Aware of pitfalls that frequently thwart our do-good efforts, especially when crossing cultural, national, and/or economic borders, we frequently ask ourselves and others how we and the organizations we are affiliated with can do better. How can we promote fundamental change without creating dependency, powerlessness, or even hostility? How can we best use our limited resources?
Having good intentions alone is not enough. Doing good effectively requires a steady flow of creativity and good ideas—and not just from the person in charge. It requires excellence in execution of a clear, coherent plan along with having the appropriate structures and systems in place for supporting it. It requires regular, open exchange between the people helping and the people being helped. Regular evaluation is also essential. It is no small feat to develop an organization or project capable of managing these processes.
There is hope
Fortunately, there are tested and effective practices that can improve our initiatives and organizations and advance our goals.
- Servant leadership: leaders and supervisors that encourage and support people in their pursuit of self-discovery and in their personal sense of call.
- Communities of Learning and Practice: a group of people committed to improvement who are engaged in an ongoing process of reflection and action. They are intentional about cultivating and sharing their individual and combined talents, skills, wisdom, and passions.
- Entrepreneurial Spirit: an organizational culture and structure that breeds innovation at every level. People are inspired to take initiative and to assume responsibility in realizing their goals.
Our Responsibility and Opportunity
The future is calling people to engage and to improve performance in doing good in:
- Churches and faith communities
- Civic clubs and neighborhood associations
- Entrepreneurs and individuals with wealth
- Foreign missions and development organizations
- Foundations and nonprofits
“I think of John Engle’s model often. I use his approach as a sort of mental scale for judging other programs.”
Allan Beverly, CEO of Aztec Products, Inc. and Chair of Tony Campolo’s nonprofit ministry, EAPE
John Engle Associates can help you, your project, or your organization to get better at doing good. The available services include:
- Developing Planning and Evaluation Processes that invite broad-based initiative, garner commitment, and get results.
- Planning and facilitating Meetings, Retreats, and Conferences that use the Open Space format. Open Space helps people tackle complex issues creatively and effectively.
- Providing Consulting and Coaching that helps you to gain clarity and to focus on key priorities.
- Introducing Reflection Circles to help your group hone discussion skills, build trust, and become a community of learning and practice.
“Its clear that John Engle’s approach to leadership was central to our Annual Retreat’s success.”
Dr. Steven Werlin, Dean of the College, Shimer College, Waukegan, Illinois
"The 21st century will be the century of the social sector organization. The more economy, money, and information become global, the more community will matter. And only the social sector nonprofit organization performs in the community, exploits its opportunities, mobilizes its local resources, solves its problems. The leadership, competence, and management of the social sector nonprofit organization will thus largely determine the values, the vision, the cohesion and the performance of the 21st century society." Peter Drucker, Drucker Foundation brochure
Here are a few of the organizations that John Engle has helped to get better at doing good.
- BAI (International Bureau of Attorneys), Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- Beyond Borders/Limye? Lavi, Norristown, Pennsylvania and Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- FAVILEK (Women Victims Standing Up with Strength), Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- FONHEP (Haitian Foundation for Education), Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- Fonkoze Bank for the Organized Poor, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- International Labor Organization and Ministry of Social Affairs, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- Journey into Freedom, Portland, Oregon
- Louverture Cleary School, Santo, Haiti
- Ministry of Money, Germantown, Maryland
- Rotalpha, the Rotary Clubs of Haiti
- Shimer College, Waukegan, Illinois
- St. Joseph’s Home for Boys and Wings of Hope, Port-au-Prince and Fermathe, Haiti
John Engle is cofounder of U.S.-based Beyond Borders, Haiti-based Limye Lavi Foundation, Reflection Circle Project, and Rotalpha, a literacy initiative of Rotary Clubs of Haiti. He serves on the board of directors of the Open Space Institute (USA) and is a reservist with Christian Peacemaker Teams. As part of his project, The Experiment in Alternative Leadership, he spends three to four months each year supporting networks of Open Space and Reflection Circle practitioners throughout Haiti. Prior to living in Haiti (1991-2004), John spent seven years in the for-profit sector, gaining experience working in small business, in a large international corporation, and in a startup venture.
John Engle Associates
Doing Good Better
P.O. Box
Washington, DC 20015
Tel. 717.433.0059
mailto:John@TheExperiment.info
http://JohnEngle.info
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