The Leadership Conversation Every Nonprofit Should Be Having
The strongest organizations plan for leadership changes long before they happen. That was the theme of our latest EmpoweredHour, and today we're sharing our top takeaways from “Growing Strong Roots: Building a Sustainable Future Through Your Leadership”, along with the full recording.
EmpoweredHour Recap: Growing Strong Roots
On September 17, Stefanie Pessis Weil and Rashel Allswang led a conversation on succession planning and how to build a leadership pipeline that keeps your organization strong through every season of change. Thank you to everyone who joined us live! We closed the session by asking attendees to share one word describing how they felt, and we heard "hopeful," "inspired," "reinforced," "motivated," and "collaborative." If you missed it, you can catch the full session, including the live Q&A, on our YouTube channel.
What We're Taking Away
Succession Planning is an Every Day Practice
The best time to plan for a transition is before you need to. "No matter where you are in the life cycle of your organization, you should be thinking about these things," Stefanie shared. "It should be a daily practice and a yearly evaluation." And when a key person does leave, give yourself a generous timeline. Plan in terms of six months to a year, not two or three weeks.
Don’t Hire for the Sake of Hiring
When a role becomes available, don't just plug someone new into the same seat. Take a moment to pause and evaluate if the role has changed and how it aligns with the growth of your organization.
Your Board is Made Up of Individuals
Every board member brings their own time, expertise, and network. Engagement surveys and one-on-one conversations help you understand what each person can offer and what they need to feel connected. Clear expectations, thoughtful onboarding, and even pairing new members with a mentor go a long way. "There is no all,'" Stefanie reminded us. "Your board is made up of individuals."
Board and Staff Are Partners
Your board should know what each member of your team does and where their strengths are. One easy way to build that connection is to invite a different staff member to join a board meeting now and then. Our Board and Staff Roles Quiz is a great way to see how well your board understands who is responsible for what, whether you're working with your current board or onboarding new members.
A Fond Farewell to Ilissa
Ilissa, our Principal Empowerment Officer, who has been a core part of Empowered Nonprofits from the very beginning, is moving on to an exciting new opportunity as the Chief Development Officer at the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis. She helped shape who we are today, and she is the definition of a woman who empowers women. She has been a role model for everyone on our team and always lifts up those around her, celebrates their wins, and gives credit where credit is due.
As a member of our leadership team, she built lasting relationships with our clients and brought a creative and analytical mind to everything she did. We're so grateful for all she's given to this team and to the organizations we serve, and we can't wait to see what she does next. Ilissa, you'll always be part of the Empowered Nonprofits family!
