How Women Can Redefine What a Nonprofit Leader Looks Like
Do you have an image of what a nonprofit leader, looks like? acts like? talks like?
Does that woman look, act and talk like you?
This article will show you how women can define themselves as the nonprofit leader they are meant to be.
When you think about nonprofit leadership what image do you have?
Most nonprofit chief leaders are men. And there continue to be biased perceptions of women in leadership roles. Women in leadership positions can face undue criticism like being described as “bossy” even when doing the exact same thing as men. If that’s something you’ve heard or experienced, you’re not alone. One challenge faced by women in nonprofit organizations is that, although there may be more women who are in middle management positions most of the executive positions are held by men. Another challenge is the perception of what it takes to be a leader and often that is based on trying to be the opposite of gender stereotypes. Without realizing it, women are receiving constant, consistent messages telling them what leadership is supposed to look like.
However, in a study shared in the Harvard Business Review women were noted to be highly effective leaders in most leadership skill domains. Meaning women can, and should, create their version of the ideal leader based on the talents and skills they already have. A true leader is not just a boss. She may have boss moments, but her leadership does not survive solely on controlling other people or mimicking her male colleagues.
Here’s how you can build your own identity and confidence as a nonprofit leader:
1. First self-reflect – really think about yourself and YOUR talents and skills.
2. Then reflect on the positive feedback you have received.
Do people tell you how well you led the last meeting?
How easily you explained a work task?
That your contribution to a project was really valuable?
Try to see what they see because they are giving you feedback about what they value in a leader.
3. Go for the long view. Think back throughout your career. What do you see? Find at least three positive things.
4. Now, think about your most recent accomplishments.
Look at them objectively.
Look at how you achieved that success—what steps you took.
What value did you add or what problem did you solve?
Were people positively impacted and if so, how?
5. How would you describe what you accomplished, if you were talking to someone else?
Take a moment to praise yourself. How does thinking about your accomplishments make you feel? Proud? Empowered?
What leadership skills did you display?
Find at least three things you like best about being in a nonprofit leadership position
Think about how to find ways to include things you enjoy each day.
If you love coaching people, make sure you’re including coaching in each supervision meeting with staff. Implement a transformational leadership style.
Love project management? Look for and take on projects across departments or branches.
Do you like learning new skills? Ask to get cross-trained so you understand other aspects of the organization like budgeting or HR.
Amplify what you like about being a leader and use that to become the ideal leader you want to be.
Here are two examples of how to do that:
Use your own coaching skills as the primary way to support your team’s professional development. Emphasis teachable moments and help them to handle conflicts and to self-reflect and apply takeaways!
Engage in cross-training to address systems issue that’s impacting your program; use your new insight to pull the right people into the problem-solving process now that you understand their roles and their strengths!
Accept yourself as the nonprofit leader you are becoming and focus on what really matters—the things about you that make you unique as a woman in a leadership role.
For example, your approach to solving problems, the way you build relationships, or how you help others to develop! Listen to our podcast episode here, about the importance of building connections.
Think about what you want people to praise you about. How do you want to be visible at work? Do you want people to see you as capable, organized, decisive—something along those lines right?
Make a list of your positive personal and professional qualities and characteristics. Then rank them in order starting with where you excel the most down to where you could use more practice.
Get involved in activities that help build up the lower scoring areas—volunteer for projects, join agency workgroups, discuss having an executive coach with your organization, or invest in coaching for yourself. This will help you develop leadership skills and allow you to become an authentic leader.
Although most nonprofit leaders are men, women can thrive in executive and c- suite leadership roles. By challenging structural and individual barriers organizations and women can transcend the barriers that are limiting women’s leadership opportunities. Our executive leadership coaching program provides one on one and team coaching. These opportunities support women in building their leadership based on their talents and skills, creating positive work cultures, and having a valuable network of other women who are leaders. Connect with us today for your free 30- minute discussion to discuss how executive coaching can help you achieve more satisfaction in your career or help you as you focus on your executive job search.
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