Biggest Challenges Faced By An Executive Director At A Non Profit
Michael's greatest challenge as Executive Director is "managing expectations and desires of interested stakeholders," balancing the "very different Visions" of the board of directors with the aspirations of community constituents and available resources. This requires skillful communication and prioritization to translate ambitious dreams into achievable realities.
Executive/Leadership, Communication, Problem-Solving, Overcoming Challenges, Stakeholder Management
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Michael Bleggi
Executive Director
Non-Profit
Duke University, 2017
UCLA Anderson MBA
Political Science, American Studies
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Strategic Management and Executive
Video Highlights
1. Balancing the expectations of diverse stakeholders (board members, community, constituents) is a significant challenge.
2. Effective communication and prioritization are crucial for translating ambitious visions into achievable goals.
3. Understanding the organization's financial and resource limitations is key to managing expectations and making sound decisions.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
Definitely, managing expectations and desires of interested stakeholders is crucial. As an executive director, you usually work under a board of directors. In the United States, you are also legally accountable to stakeholders outside the organization who are your constituents, those whom you serve.
Your board of directors will consist of smart individuals with diverse visions for the nonprofit. People outside the nonprofit may not know your financial standing, personnel capacity, or available resources. They might also have very grand aspirations, which is commendable.
Your role as executive director is to translate those dreams into reality. This is achieved through strong communication skills. Communicating involves understanding what others are saying and prioritizing what can actually be achieved.
The challenge lies in balancing what the board of directors wants, considering the investment of deeply engaged individuals, and ensuring your organization resonates with the community. This balance is likely the biggest challenge of the job.
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