Non-profit organizations are filled with passionate people dedicated to serving their communities, who may be in non-profit leadership or volunteerism. If they’re not working directly with clients, they might be engaged in a different way, such as fundraising, advocacy or public policy work.
Each of these activities requires non-profit leadership skills that match the specific vision and goals of each non-profit organization. Here are five common types of leadership styles that work best for non-profits:
The Visionary
The Visionary, as the name suggests, is the one who sees the big picture. The visionary sets the direction for an organization and inspires people to do great things.
They can be a CEO or founder, but they’re also likely to be on your board of directors–or even just someone who volunteers their time because they love what you do so much that they want to be involved in every aspect of it.
The Visionary style works well for non-profits because it allows them to think long term and plan accordingly; this way, when there are obstacles along the way (and there will always be obstacles), there won’t be any surprises waiting at their destination.
The Activist
This type of non-profit leadership style is passionate about the cause they are working towards, and they are good at motivating others to work with them.
They’re also great at getting people to do more than they would have done on their own, and can get people from different teams working together in order to achieve something that was previously impossible.
The Commander
If your non-profit has a clear vision and strong sense of direction, the Commander leadership style is a great choice. This style is also a good fit for an organization that’s well organized.
A non-profit with a clear vision will benefit from having their leaders direct them towards success.
A non-profit with a strong sense of direction will be able to move forward more quickly with their goals when they have someone at the helm who can make decisions quickly and confidently.
The Facilitator
A facilitator is a great leader when you have a team that needs to be organized. This style of non-profit leadership is ideal for non-profit organizations because it helps the team delegate tasks and organize meetings.
Facilitators are also good at helping others feel comfortable in their roles, which can be especially useful when working with volunteers.
A good facilitator will make sure that everyone knows what they’re supposed to be doing and how they can contribute best.
They’ll motivate people by asking questions about what they want out of their volunteer experience or job opportunity, so everyone feels like their opinion matters–even if it’s just one small piece of the puzzle!
The Consultant
As the name suggests, this non-profit leadership style is all about getting advice from experts in your field. A consultant is a neutral party who advises the organization on how to solve its problems with the aim of increasing efficiency and effectiveness.
Consultants are usually experts in their field and therefore can provide unbiased advice based on their expertise or research findings.
However, consultants don’t actually implement their own recommendations; instead they leave that up to the staff members of non-profits (or other organizations). That way there’s less pressure on you as a leader because you won’t be held accountable if things go wrong after following someone else’s advice!
These five styles of leadership are most effective for non-profit organizations.
The five non-profit leadership styles are the visionary, activist, commander, facilitator and consultant.
The visionary is a creative and inspirational leader. They have a keen sense of their organization’s mission and vision, which they communicate clearly to others so that everyone knows what it is they’re working towards.
Activists are extremely passionate about social justice issues such as poverty reduction or environmental sustainability; they believe strongly that these problems need addressing now rather than later–or possibly not at all!
The Commander is ideal for well-organized non-profits with a clear vision, as it enables swift and confident decision-making to drive success. These leaders make quick decisions to move things forward efficiently.
Facilitators, with their skill in organization and team coordination, ensure that everyone is clear about their roles and motivated to contribute, making them a valuable asset, especially when working with volunteers.
Finally, consultants offer a different kind of support, as they provide expert advice to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Consultants are like experts who give advice to improve how your non-profit works. They don’t do the work themselves, but their impartial advice can be super valuable.
Ultimately, the choice of leadership style should align with the specific needs and circumstances of the non-profit, and a successful organization may even integrate elements of multiple styles to adapt to evolving challenges and opportunities.
Follow Kevin White for Non-profit Leadership Advice
Understanding how to lead a non-profit organization is crucial for your organization’s mission success. Non-profit Leadership is about more than just giving orders and expecting people to follow them–it’s about inspiring others with your vision and passion for making the world a better place. If you want to be successful, heed Kevin White‘s advice and find the style of non-profit leadership that works best for your organization and use it wisely!
