As we approach this year’s Academy Awards, I’ve been thinking about the best picture of 1957, director Sidney Lumet’s “12 Angry Men.” If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth watching.…
[Note: A version of this article appeared in Philanthropy Daily on December 21, 2017.] I’m fascinated by what makes someone an effective nonprofit leader. Yes, leaders should be inspiring and visionary, setting…
{Note: This post has been co-published by the Maine Association of Nonprofits.} It’s not easy being a nonprofit CEO. People expect the CEO to have all the answers. The ideal CEO…
People make dumb decisions. Sometimes the decision isn’t really a decision at all, but simply a momentary loss of focus, like locking yourself out of the house when you take…
“So what’s your boss like?” I asked a friend, who had recently taken a position at a nonprofit. “Well, you know. He’s a founder.” My friend then listed the adjectives…
I have a friend who works as the second-in-command at a very small nonprofit. Her longtime and very effective executive director is retiring, and the board is searching for a…
Ulysses S. Grant had greatness in spades. He was the victorious general in the Civil War – and perhaps the greatest military leader in American history. He was a popular…
The toughest lesson for nonprofit CEOs is learning what not to do. Most CEOs came up through the ranks and are devoted to the mission. They get their juice, their…