Integrated Organizational Leadership

Prof. Hack’s strong case for the need for integrated organizational leadership is an important one at any time, but it is especially poignant during these challenging economic times. In light of the current economy, many non-profits are having to put forth two times the effort (or much more) to raise what was raised in previous years. This need to increase the effort level requires increased organizational integration and an ever-more unified organization-wide response. In recent months at EnlightenNext, I’ve been working in a tighter way than ever with committed Board members and Senior Management. For example, the Chair of our Development Committee recently forewent a retreat abroad to spend three weeks working full-time with our Development staff and senior Management, helping create the strategies and systems that will enable us to launch a major donor appeal this Fall. In addition, our Assistant Director of Development has been working very closely with our Human Resources Director on a reallocation of staff time such that Development activities are being recognized an organizational priority. This reallocation of staff time has effectively doubled Development human resources by integrating Development functions into all our programs and departments. This is powerfully mobilizing and unifying all our staff in a strong sense of shared mission and direction. So while this is a challenging time of rapid change, it is also an opportunity to accelerate organizational advancement and evolution. It is more apparent than ever the only way to success is via sustained horizontal and vertical collaboration. The whole is indeed always greater than the sum of the parts.