The NGen Fellows Report http://www.independentsector.org/2009_ngen_fellows_project points to a "visibility vacuum" of younger leaders and suggests that we should be doing more to spotlight under-40 leaders. However, I was in a meeting yesterday in which one of the participants noted that our current societal problems and the work that our organizations are doing to address them are too complex to rely on a set of heroic leaders. Instead, she said, we should be promoting - within our organizations and across the sector - a culture in which leadership is an activity that can be performed by anyone at any level.

So what do you think of this notion? Would you be able to site an example of an act of leadership within your organization by an NGener more readily than you would be able to name an NGener who fits the general mold of being a leader? Do you have an example you can share?

Trish -

Great post.

Personally, while I theoretically agree with the idea that we should promote "a culture in which leadership is an activity that can be performed by anyone at any level." And, I certainly try to promote an environment that encourages people to take initiative, I am not sure that this is an either/or situation.

I believe that organizations (and our sector) broadly cannot just promote the idea that "everyone is a leader" and assume that solves the leadership problem. I believe that we also need to develop, support, and promote individuals who are leaders, not just in the positions that they hold but also in their personality, skill set, outlook and perspective on life.

While we certainly need to live in a world where everyone realizes they can make a difference, we also need to advance, support, highlight, develop and shine a spotlight on those individuals who are leading the way.

It is not so much that we need a hero to save the day, but we do need individuals who help lead the way to address a wide variety of critical issues that society struggles with.

That's my opinion.

- Scott Beale
Atlas Corps (we are trying to develop a networked generation of nonprofit leaders from around the world)

During the "NGen Challenge - Leading Across Sectors" webinar, Trish and Roopal asked participants to give examples of forms of leadership that often go unrecognized or under-recognized. The answers included:

- Mentoring
- Faith Community leadership
- The hard working nonprofit professional who is not necessarily in an upper management or directorship position... the person who makes creating change their main goal, but isn't necessarily gaining high visibility in doing so
- Leading by example, leading from the back of the pack in team environments, empowering young leaders (leadership transition)
- when one tries to include others (comm members/clients, stakeholders, other staff) in decision making processes.
- volunteerism
- "ghost writing" on research and funding reports, preparing, developing and tracking budgets
- Founders stepping back and giving new leadership opportunity to shine
- Young leaders are often not able to assume leadership because of a logjam at the top.
- While AmeriCorps*VISTA Members are often recognized nationally and programatically, they are quite often under-recognized within the offices where they perform their service.
- "leadership" shouldn't be confused w/ authority. I think a teammember is one of our strongest leaders - she regularly motivates ppl to perform at their highest level. however, she's in the middle-ish range in terms of title in the organizational hierarchy.
- often time "support staff" - those who are key in implementing organizational goals & objectives...how about a implementor award at your org?
- board/civic involvement
- could be a Gen X phenomenom; seek less credit?

What do you think? What resonates with you on this list? And then to answer Trish's original question at the top of this string, is leadership a way you act, or is leadership squarely associated with an actor?