Leadership Lessons: Nonprofit Board Service Will Sharpen You
Years ago, when I lived at Annie Malone and ECHO, I used to see people in suits coming to the agencies for what appeared to be extended stays. Now I understand that they were there for board meetings, representing both large and small companies such as Lucent Technology, St. Louis Cardinals, Enterprise Holdings, and First Bank. The first banker I ever met was from this bank, and he was a great guy. He spoke some truly prophetic words.
During my formative years, I had the privilege of spending time with corporate executives and learned valuable lessons from them. Nonprofit board service was not just seen as a way for their employees to connect with causes, but as a powerful training ground where leaders could develop essential skills like effective communication, active listening, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Across the nation, there are over 1.5 million nonprofits, each dedicated to solving problems and addressing market defects. Many of us are focused solely on our specific areas of work and may not actively participate in leadership activities or cross-functional team environments. However, the most impactful learning experiences I've had came from engaging with teams and from taking the bold step into leadership. When you join a nonprofit board, you become part of a team where each member brings expertise and passion to the cause and you get the opportunity to lead in ways that might be new to you. It's an opportunity to sharpen skills that may not be fully utilized in your daily work.
We need more Black and Brown and other individuals from diverse backgrounds and communities to serve on nonprofit boards. Joining a nonprofit board is one of the most valuable career decisions you can make. Dedicate some of your energy to supporting a nonprofit's goals. There are literally thousands of local charities in our community. Step up and raise your hand. Stop making excuses about why it's not the right time to serve. Service on smaller nonprofit boards is the springboard to service on larger, and even more connected civic organizations. Collectively, these boards, alongside academic and corporate boards, are exclusive clubs where power and influence reside. Contrary to some beliefs, nonprofits are businesses. However, their focus extends beyond self-interest to working towards the common good.
Joining a board will not demand as much of your time as you may think, and the value you'll gain is immeasurable--you may even speak prophetic words to a client or inspire them to believe they can do more and be more.
Through my work at Midwest BankCentre, I have been hosting an annual Nonprofit Connector event for the past two years. The goal? To bridge the gap between diverse potential board candidates and nonprofits and civic organizations seeking a broader spectrum of applicants. This initiative stands as a part of our Network for Good, as we strive to leverage our relationships to empower our clients and our communities.
If you represent a Nonprofit Organization looking to diversify your board or are looking to serve on a nonprofit board or know someone who would be a good candidate, I would like to connect. Space is limited, if you fit the criteria, click the link in the comments to get information on upcoming ways to connect.
Let's take these steps towards shared prosperity together, knowing that when we all have the chance to DREAM BIG, we truly RISE TOGETHER.