But we can't get there alone. The greatest drain I'm seeing among leaders of nonprofits is the loneliness of what they have begun to believe is their personal long distance run to nowhere. The very scope, complexity, or continuous build-up of tasks and roles, take their toll in a growing isolation and building of a tall narrow silo. The energy necessary to even think of how they will tackle one more activity blocks out the sun, and rather than shift those activities to others, they just say they have to do more. They lose the very voice their members need from them, the voice of collaboration, health and willingness to let go of being in charge of day to day.
Kick out of the silo. Spend part of each day considering who would be helpful for each task or responsibility that must be fulfilled in the next month, season, year. Ask people to support something, ask people to join in answering a need. Make a list and then give away the sole role. Make it a goal that at the end of one month you'll have brought 3 volunteers into the organization who are tackling one or more tasks. Make a goal, an audacious goal to demand that you learn, and the organization, learns to work in an entirely different model of service and leadership; set the goal that at the end of the year there will be 50 new volunteers working to meet the objectives and purpose, doing real work and bringing strength. This new model will leave you able to again be the valued and astute leader, and not the isolated overpaid drudge you've been dragging around on your back for too long.
And you can begin to remember why you took that job in the first place. Because you were excited at what were the possibilities. And this is the real possibility - each person who joins with you brings 6 opportunities along with them.
Be aware. And dare to be well.
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