“Gives leadership teams the important questions to ask on an ongoing basis to support systemic growth and facilitate change when required. An easy read that is very comprehensive in terms of the strategies and tools it provides!”
Dr. Lucy Miller, Future CEO, United Way Calgary
The Nurturing Leader is an excellent guide for both the seasoned and developing leaders. It provides practical tools… I find it very useful.
Peter Both, Minister of Information and Communications, South Sudan
Life being what it is, organizations are continually under pressure in big and small ways. They can lose their focus; they can drift from their mandate; they can become stuck in old ways of thinking as the world around them changes dramatically. Leaders must adapt by aligning and realigning their vision, mission and objectives on an ongoing basis using an organic approach.
Like plants in a garden, people in organizations require a nurturing environment to grow and reach their potential. Leaders and managers need the right tools and strategies to tend to their gardens. The Nurturing Leader provides practical hands-on activities and transformational ideas for every season. With the help of this book, you, your people and your organization will bear fruit as never before.
The world in which organizations exist is constantly changing. Organizational strategies and processes that worked at one time may slowly become ineffective or inefficient in the new evolving environment and the leaders may not know that something is adrift. And if they know it, they may be unsure what has gone wrong, why, and how best to respond.
In fact, organizations can be full of contradictions. By definition, they are driven by missions motivated by core beliefs or values. For example, a social justice organization may seek to help meet the needs of the poor. To accomplish such a daunting task requires good governance and an effective strategic plan, pursued by specialized personnel and executed in a coordinated fashion. But if it is to succeed, that organization cannot override its mandate – it cannot place its structure, staff, plans and processes above the people it is there to serve.
Many organizations find themselves in fundamental conflicts, hindering them from living out their values with integrity. This is particularly true of not-for-profit, human service organizations, but often applies to government departments and the for-profit sector as well. After years of attempting great things for their clients, these organizations can find themselves in need. Lacking key resources, they often turn inward, focusing on their own issues, and becoming isolated from stakeholders. With time they become like an overgrown garden, out-of-control or mired in weeds.
Leaders may not know which specific issues they should address first, which in turn may create uncertainty within the organization. Often, they may take an ineffective approach, run out of money, and then not know what to do. Or perhaps worse, they settle for mediocrity, continuing on despite doing little good.
If successful, capacity building addresses these issues head-on. It develops leaders and their organizations. It points them in the right direction, shows them how to go forward, and brings them closer to their goals, ultimately fulfilling their mission.
Praise For The Nurturing Leader
”A practical guide to the nuts ‘n bolts of organizational life – A handy reference every leader can benefit from.”
Doyle Peterson, Vice-President, Summer Institute of Linguistics International
“ This comprehensive guide is of great benefit to community leaders who want to grow from grassroots efforts to a thriving organization with well managed programs that address local needs.”
Francois Robert, Former President, Global PartnerLink
“The Nurturing Leader’ is an easy, step by step tool for leaders to help them manage organizational change.”
Holly Davidson, National Events Manager, UNICEF
$19.95