In the social profit sector, leadership isn’t defined only by strategy or long-term plans. It’s reflected in the daily habits that build culture, nurture relationships, and keep organizations aligned and moving forward. These seven practices offer a foundation for leadership that lasts.
1) Stay Curious About Your Organization
Curiosity is one of the most valuable tools in a leader’s toolkit. Ask questions like: What’s working? Where is collaboration flourishing? What barriers are holding us back? The goal isn’t to rush toward solutions, but to spot patterns and surface insights that lead to stronger decisions.
Curiosity allows you to understand your organization more deeply before making changes.
2) Treat the Fiscal Year-End as a Launchpad
Rather than seeing the fiscal year-end as a deadline, use it as a springboard for the year ahead. This mindset shift reduces burnout, positions successes as momentum for the future, and helps your team focus on building toward long-term goals instead of sprinting toward a deadline.
Try reframing the year-end by celebrating milestones while asking, “What foundation have we laid for next year?” This will help staff approach the year-end without burnout, and with a sense of continuity and momentum. Treating fiscal deadlines as launchpads can transform the culture from reactive to proactive.
3) Connect Personally with Donors
Make it a priority to regularly connect with donors, regardless of gift size or history. A phone call, a handwritten thank-you card, or a personal check-in goes a long way. These conversations deepen understanding of donor perspectives, give you credibility with your board and team, and strengthen the relationships at the heart of your mission.
4) Ask the Four Questions of Effective Board Engagement
- What does the board need to know to provide oversight and advice?
- What do you need them to start doing?
- What seeds do you need to plant for future decisions?
- What should the board stop doing?
These questions ensure your board is actively engaged in governance without being bogged down in operational matters.
5) Name and Slay the “Zombie Issues”
Every social profit organization has them: topics that resurface year after year without resolution. They often lurk in the background, derailing other decisions. Identify these lingering organizational issues, and address them proactively rather than allowing them to disrupt progress.
Dealing with these “zombie issues” head-on builds trust and momentum.
6) Simplify Your KPIs
Boards don’t need a flood of data, they need meaningful insights. Review your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and focus on a handful that truly reflect organizational success. A streamlined dashboard helps boards and teams spend less time deciphering numbers and more time on meaningful discussion.
Leaders who simplify metrics give their boards the gift of clarity.
7) Define Your Unique Value as a Leader
Beyond guiding the organization, leaders should clarify their own unique contributions. Ask yourself: Where do I add the most value? Whether it’s donor relationships, advocacy, or strategy, focus your energy on the areas only you can lead.
Understanding your contribution helps you manage energy, avoid burnout, and amplify organizational success.
Moving Forward
Effective leadership isn’t about big moments, it’s about practices that shape how you show up every day. By staying curious, reframing fiscal cycles, connecting with donors, engaging boards, tackling zombie issues, simplifying KPIs, and leaning into your unique strengths, leaders create the conditions for stronger teams and stronger organizations.
Our President and Managing Director, Douglas Nelson explored these very practices on a past episode of The Discovery Pod. Listen below or tune in here.
🎧 Catch Up on Past Episodes
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