Leading Chaos: The Journey of Work Life Balance

Sometimes you just have to let it go.  You plan; you plan for the planning; --you even plan to execute the plan-- and then it heads south...north...or...it goes any and all directions. The chaos is maddening but the memories wrap around your heart like one of those all-body snuggie suits on a cold winter day (admit it, you have one of those crazy things!).

If leadership is art then trying to lead at home is like conducting an orchestra of chirping birds. The sound can be peaceful and relaxing or it can be maddening if your goal is quiet solitude for a minute...or five. Perspective.

Leading the chaos of life and home is indeed art in motion.  To the "untrained" eye, it's paint splattered on a wall -- unintentionally, intentionally.  In the moment you fail to realize you are raising your very own Picasso. Or, what you see is your 3 year old daughter drowning the kittens; what she sees is "making them all clean." Perspective. So, in either case, you gather your composure (eventually) and you just go with it. 

“The days are long but the years fly by.”

In this game we call life, these words are often spoken yet so profound.  Wake up one morning and your toddler has gone from cleaning kittens to shining the family ride for a first date.  Blink your eyes and your celebrating your 10th anniversary as executive director.  Where has the time gone?

Along life’s journey the moments are easy to forget but the memories linger to warm our hearts; remind us of good and tough times; and sometimes stick around long enough to poke us right in the eyes until a little of that wet stuff builds up. (Allergies!)

There will be chaos --and it will be maddening-- at work and home. The question is how will you respond as a leader? What masterpiece will you create as you dance along to the beat called life? When others hear and see chaos, will you see a vision of what can and will be if nurtured and cared for at just the right moments? As a leader can you discern "the right moment" to act; or to simply be still.

As you reflect on wet kittens (they all recovered by the way) relaxing in front of a warm fire in your comfy snuggie, what matters most to you among the chaos and clutter of your life’s journey?  

Yep; thought so. Go ahead; it's okay! You have permission to admit what matters most and then live accordingly.  

From the Wyble family to yours, wishing you all of life's special moments this holiday season and a fruitful, blessed 2017.

Dr. Wyble is a proud dad and husband, and the President & Founder of Leadership Concepts, LLC; a professional service firm providing practical solutions to community and nonprofit organizations.  Learn more at Leadership Concepts

Now that you are a Nonprofit Executive Director

You can hardly contain your excitement.  It is a monumental accomplishment; you've dreamed of it; prepared and worked long hours for it.  You are the new nonprofit Executive Director or CEO. 

You have reached the pinnacle; the promise land.  Time to celebrate as you think, “Finally, I can step into that circle of honor, glory, and prominence.”   Welcome to the club! Cue the music and confetti.

Then it hits you.  Like a fierce summer thunderstorm, reality rains heavily all over you with little warning. Panic and paranoia set in.  You think, “I must show I have what it takes to steer the ship!”

You have the answers; you are all-knowing.   You, and you alone, are the Captain.  And just like that trouble begins.  Before you even get started you have created your own storm.

It doesn't have to be that way.  Before you panic and steer your organization in the wrong direction consider these fundamentals as a first time nonprofit executive:

Clear Vision – A clear vision that is mission focused helps your team to build confidence and trust in your leadership. As a new executive focus on a clear short term vision for the first 30 to 90 days with discussion of where the organization should be at the end of your first year.  Is everyone bought in to the vision? Is there a clear path to get there? 

Avoid over-complicating matters; focus on team buy-in and trust.  The organization may need a complete redo, but it can't happen at all once if you intend to preserve the confidence (not to mention sanity) of your team. 

Think Team.  The reality is you do not have all the answers, solutions or ideas.  You never will.  A confident leader recognizes their own strengths and weaknesses. A brave and innovative leader builds a team that compliments his or her own weaknesses. If you build a team based on trust and transparency you can have team members whose strengths compliment your own skills and experiences.   You want a team that will trust and respect you --but also challenge you.  Sure it can be scary, but imagine your organization thriving with this kind of a team.

Leadership and Strategy.   The two are not one in the same. Strategists are not necessarily effective leaders but as a leader you need to be an effective strategist.  Strategies are only effective if the team has ownership and understands the implementation process.  Don't over complicate the execution.  You do not need a 20 page policy for a 5 member staff every time you implement a strategy.

Clear vision.  Confident team.  Focused execution. See a pattern emerging? 

Momentum.  Change brings fresh energy, hope and enthusiasm. Take advantage to create momentum through early victories.  What can you achieve in a relatively short amount of time to seize momentum and earn trust and confidence with your team?  Meet with your team individually and as a group as soon as possible.  Ask them about short- and long-term priorities and needs, “What is your vision for this organization?”

Prioritize the team’s feedback according to what can be done timely and with available resources.  Never doubt the value of no cost strategies that improve “organizational life” but do NOT make commitments that you are not 200% sure you can deliver.

Regardless if you are a first-time, or an experienced nonprofit executive in a new role, the transition to the “pinnacle” can be overwhelming.  There’s plenty of room at the top for your team as long as you have a clear path and plan to get everyone there.

Most importantly, don't neglect your own professional development as necessary and essential to your organization’s success. These tips will help but it is important (and okay!) to seek a third party resource for support and direction.

Dr. Wyble is the President/CEO and founder of Leadership Concepts, LLC; a consulting service providing practical solutions to community and nonprofit organizations.  Learn more at Leadership Concepts