Assessing Nonprofit Leadership Skills: The Simplicity and Importance of Respect

While I am not overly obsessed with my weight, I have had moments over the years when I realize I have a bit of a problem trying to button my pants! I try to avoid the issue for a bit but that never works. So then I must take action. A wise person once told me the secret to losing weight was to simply eat a little less and exercise a little more. However, over the years, I have tried special fasting programs, considered magic potions, and tried complex eating systems. Still, the only thing that has ever really worked has been eating a little less and exercising a bit more! It seems too simple or basic to really make a difference, but…

The simplicity of this solution fits with my understanding of how to best manage people. The key is pretty simple. Always treat people with respect.

There are courses and classes on how to manage people effectively, but like many things in life, I learned my best lesson on this from my dad. He was a barber and interacted with people all day. He was also a man of his time, which meant I didn’t always agree with some of his ideas. Even so, I never saw him disrespect another person. He always treated people with kindness. I watched as he handed the mechanic a few dollars for giving him some advice on a sound he heard from his car. I watched as he treated restaurant wait staff with patience and friendliness. I learned from his example the importance of treating people with respect.

Seemingly simple qualities, like the ability to treat all people with respect, also are very important for nonprofit leaders to possess. At The Moran Company, it is critical for us to keep this in mind as we partner with nonprofit organizations to consider a variety of applicants for key executive or fundraising roles. Our search process does involve reading resumes, cover letters, and work histories. However, it also involves taking the extra time and attention to fully assess the soft skills of various candidates.

While evaluating employment qualifications will always be a key part of what we do, an equally important part is engaging candidates in deeper conversations to understand the intangible qualities that make them successful executive leaders or fundraisers. This involves treating applicants with respect – and seeking out their ability to do the same. It really is that simple.

Contact us today if we can help your organization identify top talent. Our team is made up of servant-leaders from the nonprofit sector. We are dedicated to uncovering qualified candidates who treat people with respect and who lead others by example.

By John Gravley, D. Min.
Senior Search Consultant
The Moran Company
“We Find Great Nonprofit Executives”