The Essential Guide to Nonprofit Leadership: A Modern Perspective
Anyone might find themselves in a leadership position. The real challenge is proving yourself as a leader, especially in the faith-based world, which is the heart and soul of our great nation. We are a Christian nation seeking to ensure that everyone adheres to the essential Christian principles.
Today’s nonprofit workers are aware of these realities, and faith-based leaders can do much to turn the tide back to the traditions of our nation in every aspect of society. However, to accomplish this goal, nonprofits and their leaders need strict leadership, along with voicing the Gospel in support of their mission and values.
Leadership does not come naturally, right away, but it's a set of skills that any man can develop. As we stand at the tipping point of our nation's destiny, now is the time for faith-based leaders to consider what leadership means to them as we move to expand our work in all aspects of society.
Becoming a great leader involves continuous learning and personal growth. Awareness, leading by example, and openly communicating the Gospel are all crucial aspects of building trust among team members and inspiring them to achieve peak performance.
Live by Our Collective Core Values
Organizations should use core values to guide decision-making. The best leaders live by core values, including a culture of care, which means C-suite leadership in all of our nation’s companies and nonprofits serves as leaders for Christ. We spread God’s word by showing our society that Christianity, first and foremost, values caring.
Our country’s great men and women in C-suite positions need to guide their teams. By bringing forth the Bible and leading by example, as Christians, we ensure society returns to where it needs to be.
By speaking truth, nonprofit leaders and those in for-profit companies have the opportunity to correct the course that has so divided our nation. Modern leaders have a unique moment to speak up and ensure that our values (e.g., Christ, caring, compassion, honor, hard work) are shared and spread through vocal activism in all aspects of our work and lives.
As in the Bible, our core values are timeless and applicable to any situation. They should apply to all employees, including managers, regardless of their position in the organization. A good start for how we empower ourselves and our teams is to speak openly about our faith as leaders and our work.
Being a Leader in Today's Fast-paced World
In the past, our nation was not as divided by false goods and ‘empowerment.’ Unfortunately, technology and social media allow for the belief in things that are not in the best service of our country or our work as nonprofit leaders. As a result, we must use technology to spread the word of nonprofit missions and our faith.
Technology is constantly evolving, and leaders must make fast decisions, be results-oriented, and adapt to change. It has impacted every aspect of society. Still, we can use technology to disseminate more critical content that aligns with our organizations’ missions.
Nonprofit leaders can leverage technology by using social media, podcasts, predictive analytics, etc., to spread the Gospel. Digital evangelism should not simply be for clergy and churches. All leaders can do this and help to spread the message of Christ, order, tradition, honor, compassion, and care.
Set the Vision and Provide Guidance
Managers and team leaders are responsible for setting the vision and guiding their teams. That includes identifying and understanding their employees' goals, strengths, and weaknesses and developing an improvement plan. It also means ensuring team members adhere to our faith, values, and principles.
The best nonprofit leaders provide guidance and support for their employees, helping them understand their roles and how they can succeed. Faith-based leaders go further by encouraging and guiding their employees into the community of faith.
Modern leadership means confirming that team members are faithful to the organization's mission, values, and work. Leaders must ensure that only Christ’s soldiers are working on their teams.
Create an Environment Where Teams Can Succeed
A leader's primary role is to foster an environment where teams can succeed, especially as we seek to reflect God’s image in every business, nonprofit, school, and organization. Leaders must develop policies that empower employees and support their success.
As we move past the turmoil in our nation, nonprofits can better serve their communities as discussions about roles recede. Our faith reminds us that Christ is in charge and we must serve Him, not the cult of personality created by the left.
Train Employees in Skills They'll Need
The future is now. Training teams in the skills they need to achieve their goals is the best way to enable success. With ever-evolving technology and changing norms back to Christian and traditional values, ensuring teams understand how to adapt to technology and remember Christian values is vital.
Employees should be responsible for identifying the skills they need to become the best versions of themselves. Nonprofit leaders should create a learning environment that invests in future leaders. Employees must hone hard and soft skills, and leaders should actively invest in their development. This includes setting aside time to host training sessions and prayer gatherings, along with finding ways to ensure technical and spiritual development.
Ask for Feedback and Constantly Improve
Team leaders themselves should continuously grow and improve their leadership abilities. There is always room for leadership improvement. Leaders should ask their teams for feedback and use other tools to measure performance. This is especially important for faith-based leaders who want to live and lead with Judeo-Christian values.
To fully commit to our roles as caretakers and leaders living in and leading with our faith, we must regularly reflect on ourselves. A culture of caring for others requires us to look in the mirror and ensure we are walking in the path of Christ.
Leaders can connect the organization's core values with feedback from their managers. For example, if one of the values relates to teamwork, leaders can assess if they are fostering that environment. Leaders should remember that being open to feedback allows them to better serve Christ, their nonprofit mission, and the community.
The Essence of Leadership
Becoming an excellent faith-based leader is challenging. Changing work, social norms, and technology can make things difficult. Becoming an exceptional leader takes years of practice. Still, it's possible, especially as our nation returns to its traditional and religious roots grounded in the Constitution. Awareness, a culture of caring, leading by example, and communication are all crucial aspects of great leadership in the modern era.