Reflections on Leadership and Social Change

by Andre Carothers, Rockwood Fund

“I didn’t even know I needed to know this stuff!” This comment always strikes me. It comes directly or indirectly from dozens of the 200 to 300 nonprofit leaders who participate in Rockwood Leadership Program events each year (Rockwood, a nonprofit I helped start, delivers training in what it calls the “inner arts” of effective leadership).

This is good news. It suggests that there is at least one clear and demonstrable “leadership need,” identified by nonprofit leaders themselves, that those of us devoted to training can meet. What they are saying is that they now see the high value of learning how to listen, speak and collaborate––to align and inspire others toward common goals––to producing the results they seek.

And, there is more good news. It turns out that these skills are fairly easy to teach, if presented well. The goal of any transformative leadership training––those trainings focused on that end of the leadership spectrum called “personal mastery”––is to help participants see themselves and their existing talents more clearly; to identify and clarify their particular and unique voice; and then give them the skills to deliver themselves authentically, powerfully and effectively at each of the hundreds of unique moments that make up the nonprofit executive’s busy day of “leading.”

This goal sounds daunting, and it is easy to assume that those leaders who do this well are just “natural leaders,” born with some special gift that is non-transferable. Fortunately, this appears not to be the case. After working in nonprofits for nearly 20 years (while also running two small foundations and helping launch the Rockwood Leadership Program), I have become convinced that most of the terrific solutions to particularly knotty social problems rise––and (too often) fall––not on their internal logic or power, but on of the lack of skills of their chief proponents to inspire and align others to effectively support and collaborate with them.

It also is increasingly apparent, as the Rockwood Leadership Program enters its fourth year, that it is possible to make a lifelong difference in many leaders’ ability to produce the results they seek with a surprisingly small investment of money and time. Training of this kind seems to work, if by work we mean helping launch and sustain innovative and effective social change efforts. And it is also surviving the critical market test—if our experience of the last few years is any guide, nonprofit leaders are hungry for this type of training, and more than willing to give the time and effort needed to participate.

What I hope for in the coming years is that, as grantmakers and social change entrepreneurs, we deepen and widen our understanding of what it takes to create a solid and enduring movement for change––one that brings out the best in people and equips them with the tools and energy to be life-long leaders. This is a new area of inquiry, in the world but particularly in the nonprofit sector; a half-century from now, we (or someone) will very likely look back on this era as the beginning of an important change in the field.

Andre Carothers is founder and director of the Rockwood Fund and the Rockwood Leadership Program. He also serves on the board of directors of the Rainforest Action Network and the Center for Environmental Health.

ROCKWOOD leadership program for
program officers and foundation executives
February 3-6, 2004 * Austin, tx

In response to numerous requests from several members of the foundation community, the nonprofit Rockwood Leadership Program is offering a special leadership training seminar designed for foundation professionals with a commitment to enduring social change.

This training is based on Rockwood’s core program, the Art of Leadership. This three-day leadership skills workshop has been delivered to more than 600 nonprofit professionals in the last three years. The Art of Leadership teaches a variety of tools and technologies designed to help you, your foundation, and the wider philanthropic community:

• develop and implement a personal, organizational and sector-wide vision of social change;
• establish and hone skills in communication, feedback and creating agreements that produce results;
• establish more effective and enduring partnerships with key allies, grantees and partner organizations; and
• create and maintain humane, empowered and effective organizational cultures.

These core skills will be augmented with training specific to the needs of foundation executives, as determined in consultation with the foundation executives and program officers who have graduated from the Art of Leadership. 
 
This unique program is being offered to foundation professionals who want to strengthen their vision and effectiveness, and also explore opportunities to build greater partnerships with other foundations committed to collaboration and revisioning of the philanthropic sector.
 
The Rockwood Leadership Program is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. To read more about us visit: http://www.rockwoodleadership.org/donation.html. See http://rockwoodleadership.org/gossip/FoundationTrainingOverview.pdf to download the overview and registration information, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions.

Andre Carothers, director of the Rockwood Leadership Program
1442 A Walnut Street,  # 475
Berkeley, CA 94709-1405
Tel 510 524 4000 extension 101
Fax 510 524 4228
info@rockwoodleadership.org
www.rockwoodleadership.org