Leah Eustace and R. Scott Fortnum
Originally published August 26, 2016 AHP Connect
The following article is based on an AHP webinar presented May 25, 2016, by Leah Eustace, CFRE, ACFRE, chair of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy Canada, and chief idea goddess at Good Works in Ottawa, ON, and by R. Scott Fortnum, MA, CFRE, ACFRE, executive director of The Living City Foundation in Toronto, ON.
Organizations depend on their leaders, but despite their importance, a leadership crisis is currently affecting nonprofits. You may even be experiencing it firsthand. Does your organization lack a united board and staff? Are board members confused about their roles? Is there lack of donor trust?
Chances are that you’ve seen at least one of these issues, as “62% of nonprofit leaders don’t...know how to create a vision,” according to the Concord Leadership report. Leah Eustace and R. Scott Fortnum addressed this issue in the AHP May webinar by sharing their tips on how you can help your organization practice authentic leadership.
Management vs. Leadership
The title of boss equates to that of a leader, but this, contends Fortnum, is not always true. Higher ups are often individually skilled, but they lack the careful strategic vision necessary to guide others. Leadership relies on an ability to express your beliefs, rather than through a formalized approach.
Authentic Leadership
Becoming a “character-based leader” does not happen overnight, Eustace explains. It’s a journey that is made up of individual contributions, which eventually leads into a leadership position. Setbacks are normal when you are first cast in a leadership position. You have to learn how to lead quickly as new challenges naturally arise. How you deal with those problems will mold your leadership style.
Five characteristics of authentic leaders
The following five characteristics come from Bill George’s book, Authentic Leaders.
Purpose
“What’s your purpose?” Eustace posits that “for our organizations, it is our mission and vision,” but this is unique when it comes to individuals. She defines purpose as something “that inspires as it pulls people together, and it focuses attention on what matters most while at the same time guiding action.” Purpose is necessary to lead others because it gives you a specific direction to follow.