Nonprofit organizations have distinct cultures centered around their mission, membership, donors and boards. Executives in nonprofits must serve all these constituencies with integrity, consistency, and clarity. Learn five qualities of effective nonprofit leaders.
Focus
Executive directors and senior staff at nonprofits get pulled in many directions. Board Members, donors and staff all seem to need the leader’s attention simultaneously. An effective nonprofit leader will be able to stay “on message,” attending to matters that correspond closely with the organization’s mission and strategic plan. They won’t alienate those who believe their issue deserves more immediate attention.
Humility
Nonprofits are the perfect environment to practice “servant leadership.” Putting the organization’s goals first, ahead of personal ego, is critical to being an effective nonprofit leader. So is recognizing and advancing talent. Even the smallest nonprofits won’t run efficiently under a leader who tries to do everything. Delegating with confidence, building up staff to take on more responsibility and showing appreciation for staff at all levels will produce better results.
Communication
Nonprofit leaders must be relentless storytellers, getting the organization’s message and mission out to all who will listen. At the same time, leaders must listen three times as much as they talk and be able to quickly adapt their message to the audience they address. The story is much different for prospective donors and board members than it is for operational staff.
Technical Expertise
Executives have no excuse when it comes to proficiency with technology. Even if a nonprofit is financially able to hire a CIO and support robust IT operations, nonprofit leaders can’t be effective if they don’t speak the language of the current technology or understand innovations that could benefit the organization. Keeping up with advances in enterprise, fundraising and marketing communications is critical to understanding the challenges and opportunities facing nonprofits.
Thick Skin
Associations, foundations and nonprofit institutions attract vibrant and passionate people. Members, staff and donors have their own ideas about what’s best. High-profile organizations that are in the in the public eye get noticed, criticized or questioned in news media. An effective nonprofit leader must have the resilience to never let criticism get under their skin. Additionally, they cannot take criticism personally. They must recognize the interest in the organization’s direction as an opportunity to gain and broaden support.
Our mission at Battalia Winston is, to conduct successful nonprofit executive searches. We recruit and place leaders in nonprofits with an emphasis on finding the best fit for the executive and the organization.
