Ten Leadership Traits to Look For

It’s only natural to focus on the activities and work that an organization does—after all, that’s what it’s all about, right? Making a difference? Well, when my husband John and I started giving, we began by doing just that– searching for the nonprofits that fit our interests. We didn’t pay too much attention to who was running the shop because we were more interested in the program itself.  It wasn’t until years of giving, many disappointments, and many lessons learned that we discovered how often success hinges on visionary, energetic leadership.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over years of giving is that a surefire way to spend wisely is to find great leaders, invest in their work, and hold them to high expectations. Supporting the people in charge is when you’ll see real results.

Great leadership comes in many forms, from the head of a nonprofit to the CEO of a big corporation, from the members of a strong and visionary nonprofit board to the actual person on the ground. The title people have is less important to us than the passion they have for leading the charge and inspiring everybody around them to achieve greater success.

Here are just a few critical characteristics:

Listening: There is no substitute to having someone in charge aware of what’s really going on.

Communication: Clear and consistent communication with their team is critical—and much less common than it should be.

Leverage: Non-profit leaders who make a big difference know how to leverage a small gift to make a big difference.

Teamwork: A great leader makes everyone feel like part of the team and always takes care of their staff.

Speak Out: A great leader is not afraid to say what needs to be said—to whomever needs to be told.

Thinks Outside the Box: Leaders who succeed over time aren’t doing what everyone else is doing—they’re creating new paths as they march forward.

Acknowledges Mistakes: A great leader isn’t too proud to admit when they’re wrong and learn from it.

Slow to judge: A great leader knows that snap judgments can be wrong as often as right.

Find and Fill Gaps: There is always something missing—great leaders seek out the cracks and fix them proactively.

Know their business: A great leaders knows not just their own job, but everyone’s.

When you find a leader who has some or all of these qualities, there’s a good chance that your gift will help make the difference you want to see.

Like what you hear? Pick up a copy of Every Gift Matters: How Your Passion Can Change the World.