Today I bring you the possibility of powerful and effective leadership when faced with every Nonprofit Leader’s #1 challenge - working with a Board.
A dozen times or so throughout my lengthy career, a remark was made to me that always stuck out: "You can get anyone to do anything." Anytime I heard it, the person saying it had a smirk on their face.
They figured me out. They sat in a room and saw me get done what had to be done with the most gentle, non-coercive spirit.
Indeed, I have a track record of getting people to do things. Here is how I came to be so successful with leadership at the level of the Board...
As a nonprofit leader, know that who you are is “the bridge.”
Specifically, you are the bridge between the organization's work to be done and the stewards who have their hands on the dial of keeping the doors open.
Your role is to SEE.
Simply put, you must SEE each Board member's individual strengths and experiences so you know how to inspire and move them, and where to plug them in.
Your role as “the bridge” is achieved one by one.
Most nonprofit leaders categorize a third of the Board as "easy maintenance." No. They have life experience to offer, and it's your job to see that and bridge that experience to what their contribution to the organization looks like.
Every new Board member needs a saddle.
It's like learning horseback riding. Put the saddle on, get it in place, and help new Board members understand this ride is going to take commitment.
If you decide a New Board Member Orientation is too much work or they won't come, that tells me you don't want the best work out of everyone.
You must be willing to strike out.
I am willing to ask anyone for anything. Most people scan, profile, filter and wonder. I just swing the bat. I'm either gonna get a hit, or I'm gonna strike out.
The same goes for you. Have the courage to ask, and know that you'll learn something even when the answer is no.
Embracing your leadership means embracing the opportunity Board meetings offer.
Most nonprofit leaders regard Board meetings like a toothache. You can look at a calendar and know when the toothache is coming back.
This problem can be solved by your willingness to put thought and planning into Board meetings.
What would it take for you to be willing to build trust and confidence as a leader?
Success as a nonprofit leader lies in planting seeds and seeing opportunities to move on them.
How did I manage to get a Board to say yes to the crazy idea of a small-scale lottery that is now a 10-year project, one that transformed an entire community?
By presenting consistently and always doing the thinking behind a project before proposing it.
If you haven't stood in the success of what it is you're bringing forward, and if you haven’t bought into it fully yourself, you won't get the Board to buy into it either.
When you recognize you have the power to create and shape the role of everyone in the Boardroom, you can begin right now. It is never too late to turn the ship around.
Sheree Allison merges the worlds of fundraising, marketing, and leadership combined with an entrepreneurial spirit to train and develop nonprofit leaders who are committed to building a world class organization. Connect and learn more about her "rags to riches" nonprofit success story, her book, and her weekly column at www.shereeallison.com.
Home page photo by Roger Bradshaw on Unsplash
