Comments on: Who Said Leadership Was Fun? http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog/2009/02/11/who-said-leadership-was-fun/ Nonprofits Assistance Fund shares thoughts and insights on nonprofit management and finance Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:53:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Nicole Garst http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog/2009/02/11/who-said-leadership-was-fun/comment-page-1/#comment-13253 Nicole Garst Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:54:26 +0000 http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog/2009/02/11/who-said-leadership-was-fun/#comment-13253 Hi, Kate. Great post, as always. I absolutely agree that being "honest and open with others in our field" is key. In the work I do at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, particularly in our Nonprofit Leadership Institute, we look at the work Parker Palmer has done with circles of trust as a model for creating relationships that allow this honesty and openness to come forward. His book "A Hidden Wholeness" is a great place to start. My feeling is also that leaders - regardless of position - need to continue to be nurtured throughout their careers with relevant training and professional development. You do a lot of good work in this area, as do many of our local universities, MAP for Nonprofits, and our many other support organizations. At this time when there's so much temptation to cut training and development, I encourage boards and staff to invest in education and experiences that can allow for transformative change. Hi, Kate. Great post, as always. I absolutely agree that being “honest and open with others in our field” is key. In the work I do at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, particularly in our Nonprofit Leadership Institute, we look at the work Parker Palmer has done with circles of trust as a model for creating relationships that allow this honesty and openness to come forward. His book “A Hidden Wholeness” is a great place to start.

My feeling is also that leaders – regardless of position – need to continue to be nurtured throughout their careers with relevant training and professional development. You do a lot of good work in this area, as do many of our local universities, MAP for Nonprofits, and our many other support organizations. At this time when there’s so much temptation to cut training and development, I encourage boards and staff to invest in education and experiences that can allow for transformative change.

]]> By: Gary Peterson http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog/2009/02/11/who-said-leadership-was-fun/comment-page-1/#comment-12086 Gary Peterson Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:45:29 +0000 http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog/2009/02/11/who-said-leadership-was-fun/#comment-12086 Who was it that said "Know thyself!"? This seems particularly necessary in a time when so many organizations are dealing with existential issues and fighting/hoping for survival. When we cannot change the world, we only can change our perceptions of and reactions to it. For sure, it is a barrier when nonprofit leaders view their peers as competitors, and letting down our guards with each other can be unsettling. I always have found, however, that when I make myself vulnerable and open to the worst possible outcome I find great strength and energy. Still, it can be challenging to maintain a posture of openness in the presence of inertia or the absence of reciprocity. One needs an immersion and grounding in the realities of his/her organization's "numbers" and in the limits of one's individual capabilities, knowing at all times what is the bottom line. With and without other people, I ask two questions: What is the worst thing that could happen? If it happened, can I live with that? If the answer to the second question is "yes," then anything short of the worst is a gift, and I can live with it. I very much enjoyed Claudia's perspective, above; it's apt. Who was it that said “Know thyself!”? This seems particularly necessary in a time when so many organizations are dealing with existential issues and fighting/hoping for survival. When we cannot change the world, we only can change our perceptions of and reactions to it. For sure, it is a barrier when nonprofit leaders view their peers as competitors, and letting down our guards with each other can be unsettling. I always have found, however, that when I make myself vulnerable and open to the worst possible outcome I find great strength and energy. Still, it can be challenging to maintain a posture of openness in the presence of inertia or the absence of reciprocity. One needs an immersion and grounding in the realities of his/her organization’s “numbers” and in the limits of one’s individual capabilities, knowing at all times what is the bottom line. With and without other people, I ask two questions: What is the worst thing that could happen? If it happened, can I live with that? If the answer to the second question is “yes,” then anything short of the worst is a gift, and I can live with it. I very much enjoyed Claudia’s perspective, above; it’s apt.

]]> By: Claudia Dengler http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog/2009/02/11/who-said-leadership-was-fun/comment-page-1/#comment-12056 Claudia Dengler Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:23:49 +0000 http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog/2009/02/11/who-said-leadership-was-fun/#comment-12056 This may sound odd but as a person who has always had a close connection to nature, I can heartily recommend finding a way to spend some time observing and being in the natural world. It is rich with relevant and reassuring metaphors. Every year here in the north we watch leaves fall, branches break, the ground piles high with ice - every bit of dirt frozen solid. It seems relentless and murderous. And yet, every spring, reliably, from the gray, slushy barren ground, springs the greenest, prettiest, most alive bits of new life. It would seem utterly miraculous if it didn't happen so regularly. And invariably, some things don't make it through this harsh season. And so it is with our organizations. There will be days were beloved people and programs will be shed. Where good ideas are laid dormant. Where some long, cold and quiet days must be endured before the sun and warmth of spring return. This may sound odd but as a person who has always had a close connection to nature, I can heartily recommend finding a way to spend some time observing and being in the natural world. It is rich with relevant and reassuring metaphors. Every year here in the north we watch leaves fall, branches break, the ground piles high with ice – every bit of dirt frozen solid. It seems relentless and murderous. And yet, every spring, reliably, from the gray, slushy barren ground, springs the greenest, prettiest, most alive bits of new life. It would seem utterly miraculous if it didn’t happen so regularly. And invariably, some things don’t make it through this harsh season. And so it is with our organizations. There will be days were beloved people and programs will be shed. Where good ideas are laid dormant. Where some long, cold and quiet days must be endured before the sun and warmth of spring return.

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