Investing in Nonprofit Leaders is Mission-Critical

When I became Interim CEO of BoardSource in 2013, it was under less-than-ideal conditions. We were running a significant deficit, the board was concerned about organizational viability, and the team was looking for assurances that things were going to get better.

I remember my first meeting with the team like it was yesterday:

The fear and anticipation in the air as we came together around the meeting table.
The quiver in my voice as I committed to the team that I was going to do everything in my power to right the ship.
The somber faces of team members as I delivered the news that we would need to make drastic cuts to survive.
And the pit in my stomach as I felt the weight of my responsibility to the organization, the team, and the nonprofit leaders and organizations that were depending on us.

It was a challenging beginning. And though the organization got stronger and began to flourish, the weight of responsibility I felt in those first days never got noticeably lighter.

But I did get much better at carrying it. I learned to set boundaries, to lead with intentionality and presence, and to create space for myself, “the human,” instead of just “the leader.”

My partner in this self-exploration and learning? My coach. She walked with me through trying times, offered gentle provocations and new perspectives, and helped me find my footing as I faced new and different challenges and became more intentional in my practice of leadership.

Engaging a leadership coach was an enormous gift. And it’s one that I wish all social sector CEOs would give to themselves.

The work of the nonprofit and philanthropic sector is only as resilient as its leaders. But the intensity of social sector leadership means that many nonprofit executives are struggling to sustain themselves as leaders. What CEOs often need most is a trusted and confidential space to sort through complex and nuanced issues, work through concerns and vulnerabilities, or simply vent frustrations to someone who will never repeat a word of it.  

For all of those reasons, coaching is a gift, but it is not an indulgence. An investment in the leader is an investment in the organization. It is a supportive and stabilizing force that makes the practice of leadership more sustainable and organizational leadership more grounded and intentional.
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And—when it comes to nonprofit leadership—that's mission-critical.