Ep 26: Awareness, vulnerability, and courage in Nonprofit Leadership - Hand in My Pocket - with Michele Reiner
What are some of the myths of nonprofit leadership, and what are leadership postures that make for effective leadership? This week, we are joined by Michele Reiner of Storied Awareness to talk about nonprofit leadership with a focus on awareness, vulnerability, and courage. We discuss the myths of nonprofit leaders, why nonprofit leaders are leaving the field and what helps leaders be more effective so they can thrive in their roles. We also talk about the importance of support through coaching and building the relationship between the Executive Director and Board Chair. We start the interview with Alanis Morissette and close out by reliving the memories of The Cure and U2.
So that we can play the music of the 80s/90s right in the episode, we are releasing our podcast on Spotify. Get Spotify Premium to listen along with the music mid-episode.
Key Takeaways
Michele Reiner identifies three key myths of nonprofit leadership: 1) you have to sacrifice yourself for the job, 2) you have to know everything, and do it all yourself, and 3) there are natural leaders, and you’re not one of them. Nonprofit leaders can move past these myths by embracing leadership postures of awareness, vulnerability, and courage.
Many nonprofit leaders are leaving the field. Roughly 60% of nonprofit leaders are leaving nonprofit practice. In the research study discussed in the episode, over half of Executive Directors left their role within four years, 60% didn’t take another Executive Director job, and 45% left the nonprofit field all together.
Strong nonprofit leaders:
Develop a strong relationship with the board chair
Manage organizational culture and staff
Use a coach as a sounding board and to grow professionally
Navigate racial inequities and other areas of difference
Engage in forward-thinking succession planning
Coaching. A good coach allows you to take a look at your work in a different way and helps you to take action. Coaches don’t tell you what to do, but help you to realize your potential as a leader.
Resources and Links
Joan Garry's Guide to Nonprofit Leadership: Because the World Is Counting on You
Hiland, M. (2008). The board chair-executive director relationship: Dynamics that create value for nonprofit organizations. Journal for Nonprofit Management, 12(1), 13-22.
Our Guest
Michele Reiner of Storied Awareness has worked, consulted and volunteered with nonprofits for 30 years and knows what it takes to lead from all sides. She now coaches nonprofit leaders to reach their goals faster and love what they do. Michele’s is an iPEC certified professional coach and a head coach with Akimbo's altMBA. As a nonprofit leader, she won industry awards including the Oprah’s Use Your Life Award and the Greater Atlanta Community Foundation’s Managing for Excellence Award. She holds a master’s in social work from Columbia University. Living in Atlanta, GA with her family of 5, life includes lots of conversions, laughter and creative tension. Michele enjoys reading, meditating and cooking, and is writing a book for those seeking to tap into their spiritual nature.
