I’ve been thinking a lot lately about fear and fearlessness in my life. Are they really opposites? Is being fearless, about the absence of fear?
On the contrary. In a November TED Interview, Gloria Steinem talked about developing her fearlessness by engaging with things she feared, like public speaking. “I become a writer so I would not have to speak”. So she asked a friend, to speak with her and together they spoke publicly, compelled by their commitment to the women’s movement.
Maybe some keys to moving from fear to fearlessness are doing it with the support of others and having a compelling enough purpose that you have no choice but to move forward despite your fears. There have been moments in my life where I stood on the precipice of something great and important but hesitated. At that moment, asking for support and joining others made the leap more possible.
What helps you move from fear to fearlessness?
What I Have Learned Firsthand About Leadership Transition
The Presidential transition turmoil has got me thinking….
What should you consider during a nonprofit leadership transition? I have been on both sides of this question, having transitioned into the executive role and then leaving the organization. It is such a fragile, fraught time and it can also provide an infusion of energy that pushes the mission forward, Here is what I learned about this transition:
*Seek to understand before being understood. Listen carefully to the hopes and expectations of the staff;
*Reflect this learning back to the organization as the start of a future vision;
*Involve your beneficiaries and key stakeholders as advisors and thought partners;
* Find the right stance between stability and growth;
*Over-communicate with honesty and transparency;
* A whole organization vision setting process may be more successful than a top-down approach;
* Respect the legacy of prior leadership and work within the organizational culture;
And finally, participate in a leadership peer group or work with a coach for personal support, doubts, insecurities, and encouragement.
What do you think leaders should consider when they take the reins of an organization?