In my workshops, I always start by sharing my journey of developing my leadership capabilities, often drawing inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His powerful vision of unity, justice, and equality in his 1963 speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” has deeply influenced my own leadership vision. I built my dream on his dream, emphasizing the importance of unity in creating a better world. Dr. King's ability to communicate his vision with passion has taught me the value of emotional communication in leadership.
When reflecting on history's strongest leaders like Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Lech Walesa, Mother Teresa, Florence Nightingale, and Simon Bolivar, it’s clear that while few can emulate their greatness, understanding and addressing “What should I do now?” is crucial. Courage and the willingness to step up in difficult situations are essential. Overcoming fear and listening attentively to others often leads to successful leadership.
The Power of Vision and Emotional Communication
I share two key aspects of leadership – the power of vision and the power of emotional communication – as models for what leaders can achieve. While the greatest leaders provide excellent examples, it’s more practical to focus on realistic, actionable leadership within our own contexts.
Persistence: A Key Success Factor
Harvard professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter highlights that persistence is the number one success factor for leadership. You have complete control over your level of persistence. Embrace the advice for leadership development:
Know what enables you to lead others – look for common purpose.
Identify and develop champions and allies.
Lead change by living it – determine and demonstrate what needs to be done.
Step up to lead now from wherever you are – develop leadership through practice.
Introduce change by planning – manage it as daily work to achieve your goals.
Stories of Leadership in Action
From my high school days to my professional career, each experience has taught me valuable leadership lessons. As national president of AIESEC, I learned strategy and motivation. At the Institute of International Education, I realized the importance of top management support. At Save the Children, a visionary executive director taught me the value of strategic planning and earned trust. My journey at Foster Parents Plan transformed from a forceful leader to a supportive coach, showcasing the importance of adapting leadership styles.
Leadership requires stepping up during crises or opportunities. Whether transforming a neighborhood association after a firebombing incident or leading organizational development at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, each step taken towards leadership brings greater organizational success.
Conclusion
Leadership is about stepping up to achieve organizational vision, mission, and goals. Take time to complete the leadership worksheet at the end of this chapter, which will help you develop your own leadership vision and plan of action. Visit NGOFutures.com for further guidance and resources.
By reflecting on personal leadership experiences, seeking continuous improvement, and embracing persistence, you can develop effective leadership practices that contribute to your organization's success. Start now, and lead your organization to greater fundraising success and overall results through strategy, teamwork, and leadership.
Leadership Worksheet
Practical Steps to Identify Your Personal Vision and Create Your Plan for Leadership
Developing your leadership vision involves recognizing inspiring leaders, understanding your strengths and weaknesses, and creating a strategic plan. This worksheet will guide you through the process:
Identify Inspiring Leaders
List two or three leaders you admire.
Identify what inspires you about their leadership.
Assess Your Leadership Strengths and Weaknesses
Describe a successful and an unsuccessful leadership experience.
Identify skills or methods that contributed to the success or failure.
Develop a Plan of Action
Outline steps to develop your leadership based on your vision and assessment.
Draft a high-level plan with objectives, activities, a timeline, and a monitoring system.
Further Development
Evaluate your skills, attitudes, motivations, behaviors, knowledge, and understanding.
List what you do well and what needs improvement.
Fundraising Leadership
List five actions to take for stepping into a larger fundraising leadership role in your organization.
Visit NGOFutures.com for more resources and access to leadership worksheets to further enhance your development.
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