Leadership Training - Authentic Passion (part 2 of 7)
- Tom Iselin
- Jun 8, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 26
Learn how to turn "lip service" passion into "authentic passion" at your nonprofit in order to create a "Get it Done!" do something, I'm in, culture.
Intended Audience:
Executives, Board Members, Staff.
About the Series:
Welcome to my Nonprofit Leadership series "How to Build a Gold Standard Nonprofit."
Whether you're a seasoned executive director, or new to the nonprofit world, this video series of 21 videos will give you a set of tools and principles (and good reminders) that will help take your staff, board, organization, to the next level of performance and impact.
The videos are short. There is no mumbo-jumbo theory, just wise advice and practical tactics you can use and apply immediately. It all comes from though lessons I've learned while building eight nonprofits over the last 20 years.
I'll be sending out one video a week. For those who want to binge on the series, or if you missed an episode, you can find them all (and more) on my YouTube Channel -- The Nonprofit Mentor.
Save These Videos
Save these emails in a folder and send them to staff once a week. Or, show one or a two at every board meeting. You can even use them when on-boarding staff, board members, or volunteers. Enjoy and Learn!
Tom~
PS: You can read more high-quality leadership content in the bestselling books below. (50% off)
by Tom Iselin
“America’s Best Board Retreat Facilitator”
Hi! . . . and welcome to first things first this
is day six of boot camp
a leadership guide to building a gold
standard non-profit
on day five we kicked off a series
called authentic
passion i discussed the difference
between live service passion
and authentic passion and why people
must talk less
and do more to fulfill the worthy
mission they claim to care so much about
today and over the next few weeks i'm
going to be talking about the tactics
you'll need to put in place
in order to create an authentic culture
a do something culture
the first tactic you'll need to put in
place is commitment
why because authentic passion is genuine
belief in a mission
manifested in meaningful action and
action means doing
and doing requires commitment commitment
and motivation so the first thing you
can do to establish a culture of
authentic passion
is to commit to making a commitment to
fulfilling your mission
see anyone can be committed to a mission
i can be committed to your mission
pat you on the back and walk away having
done nothing no work
no contribution that's why it's not
about being committed to a mission
it's about being committed to fulfilling
a mission
every person connected with your
nonprofit must understand that the
number one priority of your nonprofit
is commitment to fulfilling your mission
let me say that again
it's not your mission it's the
commitment to fulfill
your mission remember the story i told
you last week about adaptive sports
the non-profit was in turmoil with no
direction no money yet
board members kept telling me how
passionate they were to start a special
olympics program
to help wounded veterans and to generate
sustainable funding
but they personally did little to
nothing in six years
to make any of it happen why because the
board was not committed to fulfilling
the mission
sure they may have been verbally
committed to what the mission stood for
but they were not willing to take action
and work
to fulfill the mission and there's a
huge difference between those who talk
about a mission
and those willing to do something to
fulfill it
if you want to create a do something
culture an authentically
passionate culture start by making this
commitment
make the commitment to fulfill your
mission the number one business
objective at your non-profit
to do this you'll have to change the
mindset
of those connected with your nonprofit
that's not an easy task i can assure you
start by holding a series of meetings
and discussions with board members and
staff members
to educate them about authentic passion
and to get them to adopt the principle
of fulfilling the mission this is a
paradigm shift
that may require an overhaul of staff
and board culture
and some of the key philosophies and
policies governing your nonprofit
change can be unsettling so expect
resistance
however once people hear the words
commitment to the mission
framed in a manner that expresses work
and fulfillment instead of passive
belief
you'll find that people will roll up
their sleeves trim sails swab decks
all in an effort to help you sail to the
island of your dreams
of course some people won't buy into the
change and they'll want to jump ship
and that's okay toss them a life
preserver and a gracious wave goodbye
as you sail off into the sunset well
that's it for today
tune in next week when i'll talk about
how authentic passion requires a clear
sense of purpose and direction
until then do what's right for your
nonprofit
not what's convenient or easy who you
are
[Music]
you
Tom Iselin
“America’s Best Board Retreat and Strategic Planning Facilitator”
Additional Resources:
Articles
Tom's Books, Podcasts, and YouTube Channel
About the Author
Tom Iselin is recognized as one of America’s leading authorities on high-performance nonprofits. He has built nine sector-leading nonprofits and two software companies, written six books, sits on multiple boards, and has been rated one of America’s Best Board Retreat and Strategic Planning Facilitators. His work on nonprofit strategy, board leadership, and culture has been featured on CNN, Nightline, and in Newsweek.
Tom is the president of First Things First, a firm specializing in board retreats, strategic planning services, fundraising strategy, and executive coaching for nonprofit CEOs.
Board Retreats & Strategic Planning
If you’re looking for a board retreat facilitator or strategic planning facilitator who has been in the trenches and understands real-world nonprofit challenges, Tom can help your board gain clarity, build alignment, and create an actionable plan that improves performance and impact. His sessions propel organizations to the next level of performance and impact . . . and they're fun!
Board Retreats and Strategic Planning Services:
858.888.2278
