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use your words.

Communication drives success.

Think about your heroes. What do they all have in common?

Throughout history our most respected and memorable heroes are great orators, or great writers, or both. Whether they are founders, philosophers, politicians, scientists, religion, artist, or business leaders, the most influential are also the best communicators.

Orators traditionally used the stage and print to get their message out.

Today, among your personal heroes may be a great conversationalist in your family, a singer/songwriter, a speaker with a motivational podcast, or an inspiring author. They have a voice and they use it to connect.

Great communication can make you famous (or at least popular).

Becoming a strong communicator gives you the power to influence people. It allows you to make connections. As a nonprofit leader, communication will win advocates, donors and volunteers. It will make you and your organization stronger and more influential.

Communication is so fundamental it is often overlooked as a key part of success. Yet, when you look at what nonprofits need to succeed, nothing is possible without communication. To fundraise or influence policy makers, or to recruit volunteers, you have to speak and write. To successfully serve clients or build a membership base, you must communicate.

Communication drives success.

Speak up! Use your voice.

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It’s not someone’s job, it’s everyone’s job.

Imagine how much more powerful your organization would be if you multiplied the number of people who felt prepared and empowered to talk about the organization’s vision! The more people spreading the word, the more donors, volunteers, and advocates you have. Simple math says it makes sense.

Why don’t organizations work this way now?

Change happens slowly. While you can see the innovative practices of start-ups and fast-growth businesses, nonprofits tend to be more traditional. The focus is not on the bottom line. You exist for the public good. That’s a responsibility and a promise. Innovation has not traditionally been part of the equation.

Now, more than ever, nonprofits are challenged to find and keep employees, to pay them fairly, to create succession plans for continuity, and to continually inspire and motivate everyone in your circle of influence, including employees, volunteers, boards, and service recipients. It’s a heavy lift.

Everyone in your organization has the heart and mind to be an ambassador. They have chosen to work and volunteer there because they care about the vision and mission. It’s time to empower yourself and others. In fact, it is becoming a necessity.

I’ll explore this topic in more detail next week. For now, think about how you, from wherever you are in the organization, can stand up, speak up, and lead the way forward.

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Step UP! You are a Leader

Not in a leadership role yet? No problem. I want to share with you the secret I discovered that changed my life.

When you have the opportunity to raise your hand and get involved, do it. I was frustrated in work and volunteer roles. I wanted action. I wanted change. Then I discovered how to make things happen.

Every leadership position I’ve had was because I was willing to take on a new task, help others out, give an opinion, or try something new. I went beyond my job description to make things better. No one complained because work was getting done. And when it came time for a promotion, I had already created the next role for myself.

Leadership is all about stepping and doing the job.

Leader at the Center

Nonprofit organizations need leaders. They need you. Becoming a leader from within the organization is rewarding. I call it Leader at the Center. It’s a role that needs to be filled now! Stepping up leads to opportunities, inside and outside your organization.

How do you become a Leader at the Center? Here are 3 steps:

1. Communicate – use your voice to share stories, including your own! Speaking about your dreams and the dream of your organization to create a better world will get you an audience, in person or on social media.

2. Connect – be the connector. Make sure you are meeting people and connecting them to resources, ideas, and other people. Your active connecting will come back to you with connections that will help you reach your dreams.

3. Convene – bring people together. See a problem? You can solve it by using your communication skills and connections to gather people and address the issue. Convening is the way you change dreams into goals.

You have exactly what it takes. Step up. Raise your hand. Start talking, make connections, and gather people together. You’re a Leader at the Center.

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.