18 Traits of Successful Nonprofit and NGO Leaders

As part of my work within the sector, I do a fair amount of executive search and leadership recruiting. While every organization is different, there are several traits that are always on the “must-have” list for leaders. Whether you’re a seasoned nonprofit or NGO leader or a member of the rising next generation, the questions below may help you assess your own leadership strengths, as well as identify areas for growth or change.

18 Traits of Successful Nonprofit and NGO Leaders

1. PASSIONATE: Are you a passionate advocate with a reputation for innovating, leading through challenging situations and fueling change? Can you inspire others while fostering creativity, teamwork, a commitment to excellence, and mutual respect?
2. COMFORTABLE: Are you “at home” in a start-up grassroots environment, yet comfortable within a larger structure and hierarchy as well? Do people of all backgrounds relate to you easily and vice versa? Do you actively find ways to engage people to help them feel comfortable around you? Do you like leading alongside others and sharing the helm? More on shared governance.
3. MULTI-FACETED: Are you tenacious, diplomatic, and results-oriented? Can you be a pit bull, a great dane, and a springer spaniel all at the same time? Can you remain authentic, yet instinctively know when one approach or style may serve you better?
4. CONFIDENT: Do you possess the ability to move self confidently through uncharted waters? Do you have an internal compass that helps guide you while also relying on all available navigation tools? More on steering through change.
5. FINANCIALLY SAVVY: Do you understand the critical importance of strong financial management, even if that isn't part of your primary role? More on financial savvy.
6. OUTCOMES-FOCUSED: Are you focused on setting and then meeting or exceeding measurable goals and do you have a clear roadmap for doing so? Do the words "benchmarks, dashboards, and outcomes" make you smile? More on dashboards, and more on measuring outcomes and performance.
7. STRATEGIC: Are you a strategic thinker with excellent planning and analytic skills? Do you use plans and tools to guide your own priorities and work? Can you see the forest and the trees and is that the lens that you use?
8. MARKETING-ORIENTED: Do you understand the importance of marketing and have the ability to leverage marketing tools to rapidly build community awareness and to catalyze new relationships? Have you embraced social media and Web 2.0 as essential marketing tools?
9. RESPECTED: Can you work effectively with and quickly gain the respect and support of various constituencies, including board members, staff members, consultants, potential donors, and other community leaders?
10. CURIOUS: Do you stay up-to-date on current events? Are you inquisitive and interested in many topics? Do you ask questions and clarify perspectives? Do you seek out opportunities to continue to learn and grow? Do you spend time figuring out “what makes people tick?”
11. TRUSTED: Do people value your integrity? Are you honest and fair with an emphasis on transparency? Are you able to admit your own mistakes and allow others to learn from theirs? Are you ethical? More on transparency, more on building trust, and more on ethics.
12. TEAM-FOCUSED: Can you tear down silos and replace them with high-performing cross-functional teams? More on "Silo Disease" and how to stop it.
13. ENERGETIC: Are you filled with energy and ready to leverage it 24/7/365 in service of your organization's mission? Do you intuitively know when you need some “down-time” and ensure that you find moments to rest and renew?
14. FUN-LOVING: Can you laugh at yourself and help others bring humor into their lives to relieve stress and build the team? More on using humor as a leadership tool.
15. PEOPLE-BUILDER: Are you a "go-to" person? Do people value you as a mentor, coach, and resource? Are you always looking for ways to build others and cultivate personal and professional growth and development? Do you regularly give praise and feedback? More on praise, and more on mentoring.
16. NETWORKED: Are you a “people collector” and a connector? Do you regularly seek advice from your own mentors and external advisers? More on connectors.
17. COLLABORATIVE: Are you always on the lookout for opportunities to collaborate, partner and work closely with others to further your joint missions and reach your vision? More on collaboration.
18. CHANGE AGENT: Are you a community change agent? Find out.