In today’s unpredictable world, nonprofit and philanthropic leaders are often faced with uncharted waters. The challenges are many, and the path ahead is rarely clear. To help you navigate the challenges of leading through uncertainty, Lynn Fick-Cooper, a seasoned leadership expert, shares the importance of the leadership process and how it can guide organizations and leaders during uncertainty.
How Might Our Definition of Leadership Be Surprising?
When people think of leadership or leaders, they often think of one person in a positional role of responsibility. We define leadership as a social process that occurs with any group or team, regardless of position. And even when someone holds the title or the position of leader, it’s rarely one heroic act that creates leadership. It always involves other people. Therefore, it’s important to think about leadership as a property of a group of people co-creating something. This relational approach to leadership is essential in today’s complex and rapidly changing environment.
What Signs Indicate Leadership Is Present?
Leadership is a process, and processes create outcomes. So, you need to look at the outcomes that your leadership is intended to create. What are you trying to achieve with the act of leading or leadership?
In the context of a nonprofit or philanthropic organization, the desired outcomes might include increased funding, improved service delivery, or greater social impact. These outcomes require the collective effort of the entire team. They cannot be achieved by a single individual, no matter how competent or charismatic. This is why it’s crucial to consider leadership as a social process and to evaluate its effectiveness based on the outcomes it produces.
What Core Outcomes Does Effective Leadership Create?
Based on our research and extensive experience, we know that when leadership is effective, 3 primary outcomes are achieved: Direction, Alignment, and Commitment, or DAC. Our DAC framework helps us diagnose and improve the leadership process:
- Direction refers to the shared agreement on the group’s goals. It’s not enough for the leader to have a clear vision or strategy; everyone in the group must understand and buy into this vision or strategy. This shared agreement on the direction is critical to effective leadership.
- Alignment is about coordinating work across the group. It involves ensuring that everyone is working toward the same goals and understands how their role contributes to the overall success of the organization. Without alignment, efforts can become disjointed, and the effectiveness of the team can be compromised.
- Commitment means that group members all feel mutually responsible for the group’s success, meaning they are willing to put the group’s needs above their own when necessary. This is perhaps the most challenging aspect of the DAC framework, as it requires individuals to put aside personal interests for the greater good. However, it’s also one of the most powerful aspects, as it fosters a sense of shared responsibility and ownership among team members.
Why Is the DAC Framework Vital for Leading in Uncertainty?
When people are uncertain and can’t see the future clearly, especially if they’re in a leadership position, they tend to turn inward and feel the responsibility to be the source of clarity for the people they lead. They start to lean on their knowledge and skills, thinking they must figure it out by themselves.
In fact, the opposite is true. When leading through uncertainty, the DAC framework becomes even more critical. When the future is unclear, and the environment is constantly changing, it’s vital to leverage the talents and perspectives of others and to have shared direction, alignment, and commitment from all team members.
Going through this process with other people allows you to surface assumptions that could otherwise lead you astray. In times of change and uncertainty, you may create your own narratives to function and make progress. By involving others in the process, you can challenge these assumptions and ensure everyone is moving in the same direction and working well together to achieve success. This leadership approach can help your team navigate through uncertainty and emerge stronger.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Leading through uncertainty requires all team members to create direction, alignment, and commitment. If you, like us, believe in the power of leadership to drive social change, contact us to start a conversation about how we can partner together.
