From Peer to Leader: Navigating Nonprofit Leadership Transitions. with Asila Calhoun

In episode 111 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Asila Calhoun explore: 

• The challenges nonprofit staff face when transitioning into leadership roles

• Managing difficult conversations: a key leadership skill

• Effective leadership in remote environments. 

 

Episode Highlights:

[00:06:15] Common Challenges of New Leaders

• New leaders often struggle with delegation, managing former peers, and giving feedback. Asila discusses how these challenges stem from an inability to let go of tasks or set clear boundaries in new roles.

[00:09:20] The Importance of Delegation

• Asila explains that delegation is not just about offloading tasks but creating growth opportunities for team members. She guides leaders to reflect on what prevents them from delegating and the negative consequences of not doing so.

[00:013:20] Managing Peer-to-Leader Transitions

• Transitioning from peer to leader is difficult due to personal relationships. Asila advises setting clear expectations and professional boundaries to maintain effective leadership.

[00:15:20] Preparing for Difficult Conversations

• Preparation is key for delivering feedback. Asila suggests narrowing down feedback points to be concise and effective, ensuring the conversation leads to productive outcomes.

[00:18:15] Trends in Nonprofit Leadership: Burnout and Overwhelm

• Burnout and resource constraints are common among nonprofit leaders. Asila encourages leaders to set boundaries and focus on self-care, emphasizing that overextending oneself leads to diminished effectiveness.

[00:20:30] Self-Care and Leadership Effectiveness

• Leaders need to protect their time for self-reflection and well-being to avoid burnout. Asila shares an example of a client who realized that sacrificing personal time led to lower performance and overall well-being.

[00:21:15] Organizational Support for Mental Health

• Asila recommends organizations integrate self-care practices, such as meditation or ensuring employees take real time off, to foster a healthy work environment.

[00:22:30] Remote Leadership

• While remote work has become more common, Asila stresses the importance of intentional leadership in a virtual environment. Leaders should ensure equity among team members, regardless of their physical presence, and make deliberate efforts to include remote staff in team dynamics.

[00:26:00] Hybrid Work Models and Intentionality

• For hybrid teams, Asila suggests coordinating in-person time to foster collaboration, while being mindful of not creating biases against remote workers.

[00:29:20] Investing in Leaders

• Asila's final message invites nonprofit leaders to invest in themselves through coaching and leadership development. This investment not only enhances their