Nonprofits Are Messy: Learning How To Lead Effectively
As a frequent reader of Joan Garry’s Nonprofit Leadership blog, her article about the relationship between board and staff, “5 Biggest Lessons For Successful Nonprofit Leadership” really resonates with me.
After working for almost 40 years in and with nonprofit organizations, I resoundingly agree with Joan: nonprofits are messy. Learning how to thrive in a constantly changing environment, where community need and the desire to leave the world a better place fuels passion and purpose. However, it also means that we as board leaders and executives need to focus and work with intentionality. This serves two purposes: organizations don’t have the bandwidth to meet every need and it helps prevent staff and board burnout.
Yes, board members can get burned out. In some organizations, there is a crisis every month and the requests for financial support never seem to end. Don’t get me wrong; I firmly believe that as a board member, making an annual contribution is a bare minimum. It gets harder when there are meetings and events to attend and support. My friends and neighbors have been invited to countless events over the years; my dear husband has a rule of only attending two events a year with me.
Dynamic and healthy board executive relationships are the fuel and secret sauce of high impact nonprofits that I have experienced working as a consultant with Strategic Consulting & Coaching. The space to create a trusting and authentic relationship between the executive director and the board chair is critical. As the new board chair at Solid Ground, I strive to be that safe thought partner with the executive director.
Finally, how do organizations sustain engagement at both the board and leadership staff level? How we as volunteers show up matters—do we come to board meetings prepared, having read the board packet in advance? Executives spend hours of their precious time preparing board packets to help us do our job; being informed, strategic, and responsible for the organization’s assets and resources. We show our respect both to the leader and to the organization when we are prepared. Our job as board members is to champion and harness the passion, power, and potential of high impact nonprofits. Both executive leadership and board service is a privilege and a responsibility. Our communities are counting on us.
Are you looking for ways to improve your board and leadership team dynamics? Visit Strategic Consulting & Coaching to learn more about how we can support you and your organization.