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ViLeading with a Brave Heart
From a one-woman band to leading a volunteer team of nine, I'm starting to question my sanity. Am I doing a good job as an Executive Director?
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When I was the only member of my team, I always wished for companions. Having others would mean not only getting help but also sharing this journey with someone. When I started recruiting volunteers and saw their genuine smiles and passion for helping our young nonprofit grow, my heart skipped a beat. I worried that my efforts were inadequate and that I was wasting their time and energy.
When those "am I good enough?" thoughts creep in, I just remind myself that even baby steps make waves in our community. Here's the cool thing I've figured out about leadership - it's not about being some fearless superhero. It's more about pushing through the scary stuff anyway, knowing why you're doing it, and having an awesome team that's got your back. What matters most is not perfection, but the courage to keep learning and adapting while staying true to our mission.
So how do I keep my team's trust and belief in me?
I've learned it comes down to a few key things:
First, being transparent about our challenges and victories alike. I'm always upfront about what I'm doing and what growth I'm expecting. Second, consistently following through on my commitments, even the small ones. Though I'm still learning to manage deadlines, I always celebrate when work gets done. Third, I show up and stay present to collaborate, communicate, and support the work.
I've learned that being a leader helps everyone grow and make a bigger difference. Instead of seeing it as just a burden, I now view leadership as a chance to grow with my team. When we work together and share our different ideas, we can achieve more than any of us could do alone.
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