Join Joan Garry, an esteemed champion of the nonprofit sector and executive coach, as she delves into the art of aligning executives with their boards. She emphasizes the importance of shared leadership and strong partnerships, particularly between executive directors and board chairs. Joan shares insights on establishing clarity in roles, fostering trust, and effective communication. Plus, discover how to navigate the evolving dynamics of leadership, especially with younger staff in mind. Tune in for invaluable advice that can transform nonprofit governance!
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insights INSIGHT
Shared Leadership in Nonprofits
Shared leadership, not hierarchy, is key in nonprofits, with the Executive Director and Board Chair as co-pilots.
This shared approach fosters trust, anticipates challenges, and navigates crises effectively.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Transition and Resignation
Joan Garry transitioned from the private sector to lead a nonprofit, unaware of its financial struggles.
In her first board meeting, the existing leaders resigned due to their micromanagement style with the previous director.
insights INSIGHT
Beyond Hierarchy
Traditional hierarchy is ineffective in modern organizations, including nonprofits.
Engage staff, donors, and vendors with mutual respect and value, especially with Gen Z entering the workforce.
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Joan Garry's Guide to Nonprofit Leadership provides actionable advice and real-life stories to help nonprofit professionals navigate challenges and create impactful organizations. The book covers strategic planning, fundraising, crisis management, and more, making it essential for nonprofit leaders seeking to make a significant difference.
Joan Garry: Guide to Nonprofit Leadership
Joan Garry is an internationally recognized champion for the nonprofit sector and a highly sought after executive coach for CEOs at some of the largest organizations. Joan’s firm offers high-end strategic advisory services with a unique combination of coaching and management consulting. She is the founder of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab, a worldclass online educational membership organization for board and staff leaders of small nonprofits.
As a columnist for the Chronicle of Philanthropy, contributor to Harvard Business Review and to Forbes, Joan is a preeminent media spokesperson and thought leader on the role of the nonprofit sector in our society and is a sought after voice on issues facing the sector today. Joan was previously executive director of GLAAD, one of the largest gay rights organizations in the United States. She is the author of Joan Garry's Guide to Nonprofit Leadership: Because the World is Counting on You*.
When thinking about executives interacting with boards, the first thought I used to have was that an executive’s job is keep the board happy. In contrast, the most effective executives are intentional about creating a for framework for shared leadership. In this episode, Joan and I discuss key lessons from the non-profit world to help align better with your board.
Key Points
The relationship between an executive director and board chair in one of the most critical ones for an organization. Shared leadership provides more opportunity today than hierarchy.
Many “type A” people are in leadership roles. Getting clear on who decides what is critical because “type A” people don’t tend to operate well with ambiguity.
Focus on getting clarity and aligned on one thing at a time to avoid overwhelming the decision-making progress. Use a recent example as a catalyst to begin this process.
Executive directors should encourage boards to think and work at altitude so they get beyond only doing risk management.
It’s not enough to expect a board chair or member to want to “give back” — more important is to understand why they want to give back to this organization specifically.
Resources Mentioned
Joan Garry's Guide to Nonprofit Leadership: Because the World is Counting on You* by Joan Garry
Nonprofit Leadership Lab
Interview Notes
Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).
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