Leading & Innovating in an Erratic Economy
written by Don Crocker, Executive Director and CEO of the Support Center for Nonprofit Management
It seems to me that great leadership in our current volatile economy doesn’t look much different than what it looks like when the economy is more stable. The ability of leaders to get the outcomes they strive for may be challenged in this economy, but all our best leaders demonstrate a relentless desire to make something productive and important happen regardless of the external environment. These leaders are able to manage the conflict between valuing the good that currently exists within the company and the knowledge that things must change to secure long-term success and sustainability. Great leaders nurture innovation – they continuously challenge the status quo and work to propel their companies forward to meet the challenges of our ever-changing environments. Steve Jobs has suggested that “innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
Some of our current leaders – people like Geoffrey Canada at the Harlem Children’s Zone, Patrick Corvington, at the Corporation for National and Community Service, and Donna Colonna of SUS – seem to live for “new, different, better.” These leaders don’t sleep much – they are restless and spend more time than most thinking about what needs to change and how to make the change. They are constantly listening, questioning, testing. The listening is done with all of the senses – observing the body language of employees, feeling the pulse of their companies through the rhythms and tones of both internal and external conversations, and examining all angles of customer and client behaviors. There is a culture of leadership throughout SUS. SUS leaders know they are responsible for change, but they are also keenly aware that they can’t do it by themselves. They create space both inside of their organization and for those outside of the organization to try out new ideas, to experiment, to contribute. They see everyone as potential contributors and investors in the future of their mission to “provide services and supports for individuals with special needs to live with dignity in the community, direct their own lives and attain personal fulfillment.” What are your thoughts about leadership? What do you do or what do you want to do to contribute to innovation and sustainability? Could it be that many of our current leaders, young and old, are influenced by the some of the provocative words of Bob Dylan:
“He not busy being born is busy dying” “What good am I if I know and don’t do, what good am I?”
Donette Hercules is an example of the excellent and innovative leadership at SUS. Check out her video here.