Why Healthy Leaders Matter
Writer: Jenn Rockefeller
Leadership in any organization plays a vital function in an organization’s success. It can make or break that organization. Leaders who hold steadfast to the organization’s mission and values will provide that organization with vision and purpose, while leading that organization to achieving its goals. Leaders who exude negativity and toxicity will see the institution's downfall. Nonprofit organizations are no exception to this rule.
This is why healthy leaders matter – to guide an organization towards future success by having a mindset of growth, of curiosity, of vision and of purpose.
What does “healthy” in a healthy leader look like?
A healthy leader should have:
Mental/Emotional health. Burnout can happen quickly if a leader isn’t mindful of balance, prioritizing, and effective team cohesion. That’s why it’s important to check in with yourself on a daily basis. It's important you create time away from the mission to recharge and recenter yourself. To accomplish all they can, a leader can too often do too much at once. Tip: Slow down and take care of your mental and emotional needs. You matter too!
Intellectual health. In the medical field, medical personnel take what’s called CEU’s, or continuing education units. It’s like taking extra classes to keep up with the ever-evolving medical field. In the world of nonprofit organizations, the same holds true. According to Bob Rosen of the American Management Association, “Keeping up with the demands of today’s complex marketplace requires a sharp intellect and an ability to ask the right questions and maintain a deep curiosity, along with a mental adroitness that allows you to innovate quickly. You also need a nontraditional way of thinking—a facility with multifaceted, multilayered reasoning, instead of the usual linear approach.”
Openness to evolving. Healthy leaders are always willing to learn from anyone. “The ability to receive feedback or ideas from others, opens up a gateway to new opportunities and limitless possibilities,” says Kristen Faith, Founder of The Nonprofit Makeover.
Qualities of a healthy leader
Shows genuine care for employees and volunteers. A healthy leader checks in on employees, staff and volunteers. The leader who shows genuine care is a leader who others will be inspired to follow.
Creates a safe environment where staff can openly express different ideas and thoughts. When people are heard, they feel valued and respected. Organizations who create space for team members to voice their opinions, concerns, or ideas are institutions that will continue to grow and flourish. An idea to implement in your organization can be “feedback fridays” where you host a fun activity during lunch and offer a way for employees to submit suggestions the organization can improve (i.e programming, volunteer onboarding, marketing, etc.). This is an opportunity to take note and take action thanks to the openness of your team.
Understands that there is always something new to learn. Healthy leaders take the old adage “You’re never too old to learn something new” to heart. They will be accepting of the fact that they don’t know everything and that maybe someone else within the organization can provide a different kind of insight to continue moving the organization forward. A healthy leader is an adaptable leader. It’s when the “know it all” toxic type of leader takes a hard stance of not allowing new ideas to help shape the organization that can bring the organization to its knees.
Encourages and motivates the entire team and is a team player. Team work truly does make the dream work. The leader will be a team player and pitch in to help when needed, be an effective communicator, and respect staff and volunteers. According to the Indeed Editorial Team, “Leaders help subordinates to excel at their work and every aspect of life by expressing confidence in their abilities. They listen to employees' worries about their work, provide positive feedback and ensure the office environment brings out the best in them.”
Be well and lead well
Healthy leaders will invest in their team. When a leader invests in their team, the team will invest in their leader. And as a result, the employees will want to stick around and care about the work they do. According to About Leaders, “Employees are likely to put more effort into their job if their work environment is a fit. Leaders and managers have a responsibility to create environments where dignity, integrity, honesty, and compassion are keystones of the workplace.”
As Claude Werder of Healthy Companies wrote, “Leaders must be well to lead well.” So, if you are a leader in your organization, be well.
