The Metcalf Foundation has released a very thoughtful paper by Metcalf Innovation Fellow, Patricia Thompson called "Being the Change We Want: A Conversation about Vocational Renewal for Nonprofit Leaders."
Below is a link to Pat's paper and a summary written by Colette Murphy, Metcalf Foundation Program Director.
For the last several years, the Metcalf Foundation has been exploring how best to support nonprofit leaders and their work. They have been asking:
• How do nonprofit leaders renew themselves in their profession, and how do their organizations and causes benefit when they do?
• Are there different ways we can come at renewal that are responsive to the realities in which people work?
With the release of a new paper in May, the Foundation is digging into these and other questions by starting a sector-wide conversation. But this is not a conversation about work-life balance, succession planning or human resources policies, although these topics invariably come up. It is mostly about individuals and their sense of purpose or vocation - why they do the work they do, what they are learning from doing it, and how to keep at it when they feel like giving up.
Being the Change We Want: A Conversation on Vocational Renewal for Nonprofit Leaders observes that we have been neglecting individuals in our rush to bring about change in organizations, systems, structures and sectors. It was written by Patricia Thompson, a Metcalf Innovation Fellow, in response to growing evidence that an increasing number of nonprofit leaders are leaving their positions citing excessive pressures, poor compensation, unmanageable stress, and even burnout. A decreasing number of young people are choosing leadership paths in the sector for many of the same reasons.
A premise of Pat's paper is that the identity, vitality and integrity of the leader has a lot to do with his or her effectiveness; that mastery of information, tools and techniques is simply not enough. One conclusion Pat draws is that vocational renewal is inextricably tied to organizational and civic renewal - and that we need to attend to all of these dimensions if we hope to address the tough issues confronting us today. She also emphasizes the need to do this on our own and together in collegial communities.
Over the next several months, the Foundation will be looking for ways to deepen and extend this conversation on nonprofit leaders and their work. They welcome our reflections on their overarching questions and on the substance of Pat's paper. If you are interested in pursuing this conversation please contact Pat at pat@patriciathompson.ca or the Metcalf Foundation's Community Program Director Colette Murphy@cmurphy@metcalffoundation.com.
| Attachment | (click to download) |
|---|---|
 | ThompsonMetcalf_May09.pdf |
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