What Makes A Strong Leader?

As the world focuses on a transition in U.S. leadership; it’s natural to consider the concept of leadership. What makes a strong leader? We certainly know that it’s more than the “right” education or graduating from a specialized training program. Many successful leaders don’t have prestigious academic credentials but use practical education and “street smarts” to foster change and influence behavior. Strong leaders exhibit an interesting mix of personality, communication skills, focus, drive, experience, and instincts. Somehow all these characteristics meld together when a specific opportunity or need arises. It can emerge in the most unexpected people in the most challenging of circumstances.

We hear all kinds of dire predictions about nonprofit leadership needs and the huge void that can’t be met with the current pool of talent. We hear grim forecasts about shrinking funding and intensifying competition for staff, board members, and volunteers. Our nonprofit leaders need every advantage to face the challenges and demands being placed on them. Growing a team of critical and innovative thinkers that bring a spirit of social entrepreneurship to the sector is essential.

Author Jim Collins (“From Good to Great”) points out that “we can find pockets of greatness in nearly every difficult environment—whether it be the airline industry, education, healthcare, social ventures, or government-funded agencies. Every institution has its unique set of irrational and difficult constraints, yet some make a leap while others facing the same environmental challenges do not. This is perhaps the single most important point in all of Good to Great. Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline.”

So how do we promote nonprofit greatness in our region? This winter, NorthSky is introducing a series of workshops focused on leadership. Beginning with our January 29 “What Makes Great Leaders- Break for Lunch session,” Barbara Jordan Ellis, owner of Center for Coaching & Leadership Development, will guide us through three sessions focused on building your leadership skills. Don’t miss these. It’s a wonderful opportunity to assess and build your own leadership skills.

Plenty of other resources are out there to help you on your leadership journey. Excellent reading materials include Jim Collins, “From Good to Great and the Social Sectors” and “Principle-Centered Leadership” by Stephen R. Covey.

An interesting website to visit to learn more about nonprofit careers and leadership is Commongood Careers at www.cgcareers.org. They have several good articles on the posted there including a white paper on developing a nonprofit workforce for the future. at: http://www.cgcareers.org/knowledgecenter/article/the_talent_and_diverse_leadership_we_need_developing_the_nonprofit_workforc/

Join this discussion by posting your experiences on our blog.

Enjoy the week,

Pam Evans
NorthSky Program Manager