Changing Course for More Impact

How a Supportive Relationship Between Board Chair and ED Led to Successful Change By a Dedicated Board Member, Somewhere in USA I was board chair when the organization made a big shift in its work to drive more community impact. To me, the most interesting thing that came out of that experience is the reflection that leadership and management are very different skills. When an organization decides to go through significant change, it is often a charismatic, high-energy leader who initiates it, gets people inspired, and drives it forward. But often a really inspirational leader still may not have the… Read more

Check Your Ego and Prioritize the Organization

March 6, 2019March 13, 2019 Categories: Board Member Roles · Board, Board Chair, ED/CEO Roles · Executive Session · Founder Transitions · Good Board Practices · Succession PlanningTags: board governance · board of directors · board transitions · CEO search · ED search · executive director · Executive director search · Founders · Founding ED · nonprofit · nonprofit leadership · not-for-profit · search committee diversity · Search process · transitions · transparency1 Comment

I love to share good stories. After my last post (about a founding ED who would not let go), a reader reached out to me to share a very different story. In this post, the founding CEO, the board chair, and the new CEO worked together to make a smooth and successful transition. What worked? Everyone emphasized their commitment to the organization, putting mission before ego. The founder pledged to support the new CEO. The board created a thoughtful, strategic process that prepared them and staff for the transition for the future. The new CEO and the founder developed a… Read more

When Founders Stick Around

February 13, 2019March 13, 2019 Categories: Board Member Roles · Founder Transitions · Good Board Practices · Succession PlanningTags: board of directors · change management · Emeritus board members · executive director · Founders · Founding ED · nonprofit leadership · not-for-profit · transitions5 Comments

I shared a story about a board that needed to become more professional in how they chose board officers. From its founding, the organization was very casual about how who stepped into leadership. As a result, they did not always get individuals best suited for each role. And, they discovered that a casual process can create uncomfortable situations. Organizations and boards go through stages as they grow and mature. The way things are done and the roles people have change over time. In this post, I share a story from an individual who was the second Executive Director of an… Read more

A Board Member Says Thank You

November 21, 2018 Categories: Board Member RolesTags: board of directors · executive director · nonprofit · nonprofit leadership · not-for-profit · stakeholders3 Comments

I want to devote this column to what I am thankful for as a board member. The Native People Were Awesome! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I was taught in school that the Pilgrims and the Native People broke bread to celebrate a bountiful harvest. I was also taught that the Pilgrims wanted to thank the Native People for helping them survive their first year on this soil. This was ostensibly the first Thanksgiving. That story is mostly a myth, one that overpowers the true story of how European settlers treated Native People. I say it is mostly a myth because I… Read more

Expert Advice on Hiring a New Executive Director

November 14, 2018March 13, 2019 Categories: Board Member Roles · Good Board Practices · Hiring ED or CEOTags: board of directors · CEO search · executive director · Executive director search · nonprofit · nonprofit leadership · not-for-profit · reference check · search committee diversity · Search processLeave a comment

I wanted to finish off my exploration of hiring a new executive director or CEO by asking an expert. Melissa Merritt has done executive searches for twenty years including ten years in the nonprofit sector. She shares her insights about how a board can prepare for a search and what makes the process most successful. This post is my final in a series about hiring a new CEO or Executive Director. The first post talks about a successful process. The second addresses how the outgoing ED should be involved. The third talks about the need for diversity on the search… Read more

Leading Well

Stories and Strategies for Doing Good Better. A blog by Janet Levinger

Tag: executive director

Changing Course for More Impact

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Check Your Ego and Prioritize the Organization

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When Founders Stick Around

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A Board Member Says Thank You

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Expert Advice on Hiring a New Executive Director

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Changing Course for More Impact

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Check Your Ego and Prioritize the Organization

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When Founders Stick Around

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A Board Member Says Thank You

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Expert Advice on Hiring a New Executive Director

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