Thinking Big at Small Organizations
Successful leaders are visionaries, shepherding organizations along a path to future growth, sustainability, and maximum impact for those we serve. And because philanthropic support is needed to turn strategic visions into reality, good leaders know to invest the time needed to cultivate meaningful relationships that will lead to increased visibility for the organization, community partnerships, and (hopefully!) significant financial support. This work feels inspiring and motivating, so you’re eager to get started, right?
Alas, here is where we often find ourselves conflicted. So many talented leaders at organizations (which are often small & lean) find themselves preoccupied tending to necessary day-to-day operations. The days fill up fast, and it can feel like a challenge to find the time and mental space to be the visionary and advocate we aspire to be. We work tirelessly all week, yet realize on Friday that we haven’t engaged in the meaningful work that could positively alter the future course of the organization. We tell ourselves we’ll do it next week (no excuses!) and fight the dreaded feelings of frustration, or, even worse, burnout.
Here’s the good news: it’s possible to break the cycle! It requires a disciplined shift in mindset, but that’s where we come in. These tips can help you see the forest through the trees (while still making sure those proverbial trees remain standing).
One: Think differently about your workday. The way you plan your time is a strong indicator of your priorities. Be intentional about scheduling 1-2 hours into your day that you will solely dedicate to advancing your strategic priorities by conducting outreach to people. Don’t wait for the “free time” to appear - that may never happen! Protect the time that you have scheduled for this work because distractions will present themselves. Leaky faucet again? You’ll call the plumber after you’ve sent the emails to the three individuals you planned to contact today to secure a meeting with them!
Two: Make peace with daily operations, even if they aren’t perfect. There will never be an end to the constantly evolving list of tasks that would result in smoother daily operations. And while it is important for our organizations to run well and operate professionally, good leaders know when to step back from daily operations to create opportunities to engage in long-term, strategic work. Feel confident knowing that you are not ignoring the smaller or more immediate tasks, but rather, prioritizing tasks differently to build a better, stronger organization for the future.
Three: Define success differently. Let’s just acknowledge that we all feel a sense of accomplishment when we can point to a completed group of tasks. Engaging in long-term work, like making calls to initiate a conversation with a potential donor, doesn’t always result in visible markers of our productivity, so we often feel that we must tend to more menial tasks (and there are plenty to choose from!) just to feel a sense of worth and accomplishment. Fight the temptation! By defining productivity and success differently, you’ll feel just as validated knowing you’ve done your part to advance long-term goals, one step at a time, as you feel when you have crossed-off a bunch of items from your “to-do” list. Pro tip: track your outreach against goals you have for yourself; for example, 3 emails in the morning to secure meetings for next week, and 3 calls in the afternoon just to express gratitude to donors. This way, you CAN mark them off of a to-do list to prove your accomplishments!
Most importantly, take a breath and have confidence in yourself. You are in your role because you possess the potential and capacity to accomplish great things for the organization. You can (and will!) thing strategically about the future by prioritizing meaningful, people-focused work. Even better? Your hard work and discipline will benefit the organization, and those who serve it, for years to come.
Nicole Cicoria
Lead Consultant & Philanthropy Advisor
nicole@georgephilanthropy.com