Last post on this book.
Bottom Line: You are their pastor.
As I read Levy’s book I was struck by the similarity between his role as President of Lincoln Center and a good pastor.
I was trained as a pastor through my seminary education and my mentors. I didn’t stay in that field long but do work with pastors every day. So I know enough about the work of pastors to understand their points of view.
And most great leaders have the same skills as most good pastors.
- They know what is going on in their congregants, or in Levy’s case, prospective donor’s lives. They know when to call to give encouragement and prayer and applause.
- They know the situations where they themselves need help. In the case of a good pastor, they have to be willing to ask for help in specific ways, not just “I need your support.” Ditto the CEO of a nonprofit, they have to define specifically where they need funds, expertise, advice and volunteer effort.
- They know that it has to be face to face. Pastors and Nonprofit directors communicate in many ways. Phone. Email. Blogs. Twitters. But nothing beats face to face. Yes, finding the time to do all that can be draining, but nothing replaces it. Not just in asking for help or support, but just to build the relationship of care and trust.
- They know that the future is just as important as the now. I think this is one of the marks of a great leader. You have to manage the present in order to manage the future. The actions of the present determine the future. And sometimes you make adjustments to the present to get you to your future. But those that are consumed with either the future OR the present don’t get things done. You have to have your eye on both.
For a pastor or not for profit leader you are investing in a person now and developing them for the future.
Bottom line: If you think of the ideal pastoral skills, you have a pretty good description of what is needed to be a great Nonprofit CEO.
*** Dave Travis is Managing Director of Leadership Network.
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