Author: merlebenny

Not all leaders are the same. In fact, the only thing they all have in common is a willingness to step forward and make something happen.

When you are planning to run a meeting, facilitate a workshop, or chair an event, it helps to think about your style first.

Think of yourself as a Leader at the Center, rather than “the boss.” A loud or dominant personality isn’t required, being well organized and purposeful will bring you greater success. Knowing it all is certainly not necessary, your job is to allow others to contribute.

Your leadership style is formed from your personality. It may be further influenced by great leaders you have known, worked for, or observed. With practice, you’ll be good at adapting your style to the group’s needs.

Which style are you?

1. Visionary – This style will serve you well when you need to map the way and set expectations. It’s both engaging and energizing, without being bossy. If your team members are uncertain and need your guidance, this will feel comfortable even if you are new to leading. It’s a great opportunity to share predetermined, common goals, and allow others the choice on how to achieve them.
2. Pacesetting – Sometimes you need to be the one who sets the pace. When you have an energetic team, ready to get to work, this style is a great fit. If the goal is to run fast and hard to the finish line, your energy and enthusiasm will be just what the group needs. If you find this is your default mode, be careful, most situations don’t call for a continued fast pace. Look at other styles that may serve you well and save this for the final sprint.
3. Fairplay – As you convene with your network of peers this may be your go-to style. Sharing information and encouraging participation are the means to an end. By opening the floor to everyone, you engender trust and promote team spirit. The result is a cooperative team, ready and willing to follow your lead.
4. Coaching – Sometimes your role is to help others see possibility or develop their talents. At those times your leadership role is coach. Like a sports coach, you are looking for the best in each team member and helping them develop their talents. You may find this style helpful when you have a new team member or when working together as a team really matters but isn’t happening on its own.
5. Collaborative – This is where your true value as a Leader at the Center comes into play. As a collaborative team leader, you bring your communication skills, diverse connections, and desire to convene to the table (or computer screen) to create change. This calls on you to imagine what is possible and inspire others to share the dream.

You could complete this list of leadership styles by adding one to each end. These extremes aren’t included because they are not recommended. At one end is the dictator and at the other is the do-nothing. Avoid them both!

I remember it so clearly: I had the opportunity to stand in front of a crowd and pay tribute to my dear friend, a retiring museum director. I also remember, as I got out of the car in the museum parking lot, I left my notes there. I didn’t need them, I had memorized the words I would say in her honor.

It started out fine. But then I lost my place.

I froze.

Not a word came out of my mouth. My brain was on overdrive, trying to find the exact words I wanted to say. Eventually, I mumbled something and walked off the stage.

Phew, that is still embarrassing twenty years later.

I’ve learned a lot since then and I’m happy to share with you the 5 tips that I will ensure you do better than I did:

1. Know the ONE message or lesson you want your audience to take away from your talk. The biggest mistake speakers make is having too many messages, trying to fit everything into one speech. You have one central theme to get across, everything you say supports it.
2. Memorize the first sentence and the last. Nothing else. You have words. Getting hung up on phrasing leaves you mute like I was at the museum. Make a simple bullet point outline, keep it in front of you, each item will be a cue and one will flow to the next.
3. Plan a speech that is shorter than your allotted time. It always goes longer than you anticipated. And a too-short speech beats a too-long speech!
4. Include one story – with vivid details, and a happy ending – that brings your message to life. Stories are remembered and retold. Use them to connect with your audience, the more personal the better. Here’s my magic formula for telling a story.
5. Make eye contact and use your body in a way that is comfortable for you. There is no right way to stand or move, do what feels good but definitely lock eyes occasionally to keep it real. If it is virtual, remember to look right at the camera!

Use these 5 tips to prepare and deliver a great speech. Seek out every opportunity to tell that speech, practice and repetition will make it better and better.  

Merle Benny is a speaker, author, and trainer. She believes there are Nonprofit Champions at every level and role in an organization. Connect to Nonprofit Champion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Here are some quick tips to get you where you want to go.

1. Know where you are going! You can’t win the race if you don’t know where the finish line is. Write down 3 clear goals for your work.
2. Ask for help. Whatever you can do on your own you can do better with some encouragement. Share your goals.
3. Make accountability a practice. Consider finding an accountability partner. I love mine, can’t imagine how I ever succeeded without him (Thanks Alex). We do a weekly check, Monday morning call, part sharing, part seeking ideas.
4. Make some part of your schedule sacred. Have a morning routine or an end of day review. Hold a touch-base meeting, or schedule writing time. Just be sure to pick something and do it daily!
5. Celebrate the little victories. Reward yourself and brag a little too.

The magic of a shared dream

Sharing your highest goals and aspirations feels good, it is self-motivating. It also inspires action. Before you can share that dream, you have to look inside yourself and discover it. What is your dream? What inspires and motivates you?

Your self-discovery is the first step. In Martin Luther King’s famous speech, he spoke for his community and his race, but he spoke of his own dreams. That personal, poignant expression was easy for others to understand. They felt his pain, they shared his dream.

He was leading a nonprofit. His speech that day was transformational for his organization Southern Christian Leadership Conference. But he wasn’t there to ask for money. He came to inspire. He shared his dream.

You have dreams to share.

Your organization will benefit from your dreams. As others hear them, they will respond. Your words hold the power to connect with people. You, no matter your public speaking skill level or role in the organization, are able to connect and inspire your audience. That results in motivated employees, active volunteers, and generous donors.

Your dreams are their dreams.

The Stanford Social Innovation Review calls this communication aspirational. Expressing your aspirations, inspires others. In the article, Aspiration: A Tool for Transformational Change, Doug Hattaway and Tess Hart write:

…That’s the power of aspirational communication, which aims to motivate people to support causes by appealing to the hopes and values that give meaning to their lives. Too many nonprofits set uninspiring goals and articulate them in bland “nonprofit speak.” To tap into the power of aspiration, you need to understand people’s hopes, set goals that speak to those aspirations, and communicate them in simple but powerful language.

Your dreams inspire YOU and everyone who hears them. Hearing dreams and aspirations sparks a connection. Think about how it feels when you hear an inspiring speaker. Your ears perk up, you pay attention. You mentally sign up for more. That’s the power you have.

Share your dreams. Lift yourself up and take others along with you.

Let’s convene!

Finally, we are feeling safe and comfortable coming together in person. It’s a fresh start. You can make being in the same room a celebration and an opportunity for great things to happen.

This week we are reminded of the founding of our nation 245 years ago. It’s a great example of convening with purpose. What challenge are you ready to take on? How will the second half of your year be great?

Here are five steps to your best-ever meetings…

1. Ask folks to gather! Yes, you. Anyone can call a meeting. If you’ve taken the first two steps – communicating and connecting – you are ready. Bring people together who share your Vision.
2. Clearly state the objective of the meeting. You have a shared Vision but what are the 2 – 3 steps you can take together to move closer to it. Be super clear about what you expect to happen while you are together and after you leave.
3. Invite only those who share that Vision and can help get the job done. Don’t try to include everyone! But don’t leave out those you need. The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker is a great book for this and other aspects of having a productive meeting.
4. Stay focused on the goal. You are facilitating, don’t let the conversation get off track or hijacked. Keep the flow going so everyone feels their time was well invested.
5. Decide what’s next. Don’t end until everyone knows next steps! Convening is an ongoing process.

You can and should bring people, at any level, together to solve problems, share ideas, and move forward.

Try new ways of gathering, Learning Structures are new, fun, and interesting ideas for your agenda. They work online too! We used Troika Consulting as a Zoom event last week. It was perfect.

Remember the 3Cs: Communicate…Connect…Convene

The path to your personal success to building a stronger organization, and becoming a Nonprofit Champion!