Leadership: It's A Messy Business
The world is a messy place. When I think of that phrase, multiple examples of its messiness come to mind. I won’t share my list, but reflect on what comes to your mind when you think of this.
I don’t offer this as a negative, or as an excuse. I think it is close to a statement of fact. Change is a part of everything, it is unpredictable, and it is ongoing. And it makes the world a messy place.
So where does this leave us as leaders in the nonprofit world? How do we forge ahead in such an unpredictable world? I think that a good starting point is to embrace the messiness.
Each month in our Leader’s Circle, Amanda and I are inspired by the leadership qualities of group members - and so this blog is really a reflection on their leadership styles. The purpose of the group is to provide a forum for Executive Directors to support one another in the unique challenges of nonprofit leadership.
The first thing I’m drawn to sharing is the total willingness of group members to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is a key leadership trait identified by Brene Brown. It is evidently challenging for many leaders to display vulnerability, and yet it promotes many positive outcomes (check-in with Amanda’s upcoming blog, “Empowered Leaders Embrace Their Imperfections). Our group members are very willing to be vulnerable - showing up authentically, sharing what they might be struggling with, and willing to offer and explore ideas with others. In fact, it is these traits that bring the magic to the group.
Our group members are also deeply committed to their organization’s mission, and the people that are touched by the organizations, including staff, donors, board members, clients, volunteers, and others. These leaders have enormous capacity to care, to help and inspire others, to show that the hope of a better world is based in reality.
And they have seemingly unending tenacity - to make possible what people outside of the nonprofit sector might think to be impossible. The tenacity to support others in need, to change legislation that discriminates, to seek a more just and equitable society, and to remain in pursuit of the mission day by day.
Group members are also great listeners, not only having the ability to really tune into what others may be grappling with, but also being open to new ideas and different ways of perceiving the world.
And one more: Creativity. Nonprofit organizations take on enormous issues and often with no guarantee of the resources that are needed. The creative way in which these leaders meet the challenges of each day, month, and year is another awesome reflection of their leadership skills.
I could keep listing more and more of the incredible leadership skills that we witness through this group - but to do so would paint these people as being superheroes. But wait… they actually are superheroes!
I’d like to conclude with two observations.
The qualities included above - vulnerability, the ability to care and to be empathetic, tenacity, and openness - are exactly those skills that are needed to be effective leaders in a messy world.
These leadership skills can also lead to burnout. In our February meeting, we had guest speaker Beth Kelley to lead a discussion on self-care for “helping professionals.” And that put me in mind of another essential leadership quality - the ability to seek support. Through coaching, psychotherapy, or peer support with other nonprofit leaders, support is the antidote to the burnout that leaders in the nonprofit sector often experience. Leading in a messy world can take its toll.
These leadership skills can also lead to burnout. In our February meeting, we had guest speaker Beth Kelley to lead a discussion on self-care for “helping professionals.” And that put me in mind of another essential leadership quality - the ability to seek support. Through coaching, psychotherapy, or peer support with other nonprofit leaders, support is the antidote to the burnout that leaders in the nonprofit sector often experience. Leading in a messy world can take its toll.
To explore sources of support contact:
Beth Kelly Consulting for coaching
The Nonprofit Strategy Group for more information about the Leader’s Circle