Is Community Leadership Arrogant?

Diana R. Sieger, president of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation and pictured right, is one of only a few foundation presidents who blog as a part of their website presence. Here's a dynamite pinch from her most recent piece which describes new energy that community foundations are putting into creating impact, and the sometimes surprising push-back that can accompany it:

I am reminded of an experience I had last year when asked by a colleague to present to the board of a community foundation she directs situated in a city similar in size to Grand Rapids about the importance of setting a dynamic course for their foundation. Making sure that I delivered what my friend asked for, I described how they may want to venture forward in their community revealing the vision, mission and four strategic strategies that set the course for the Grand Rapids Community Foundation.

One of our strategies is: “Lead significant social change”. After my presentation, I was met with stunned silence. I took a deep breath and asked if there were any reactions? Well - one of the board members and one of the few females - said the following: “Your strategy regarding leading significant social change is arrogant at best. How can you even say that - what gives you the right?” While I expected a reaction, I did not expect that strong of a reaction - I cannot replicate the tone of the question asked in writing but it was not said softly.

My answer focused on the fact that our board embraced this and in fact they think it is important for us. I said it may not fit your board and culture but it does fit ours and left it at that. On the plane home I knew I didn’t answer the question well at all and should have said, “If not us, then who?”

Leadership does not always need to be confrontational but it is needed today more than ever before. Community foundations are uniquely positioned to be the leaders they need to be and frankly many have done so for many, many years!

I wasn't there for Diane's presentation but wouldn't be surprised if her questioner read a great deal of content between the lines that may not have been there. While I've blogged extensively, as a former grantmaker and grantseeker, about arrogance within professional philanthropy, I've also experienced real resistance when any organized body takes the reins to address deeply entrenched problems.

What do you think? What does it take to ensure that community leadership isn't arrogant?

Susan Herr

Comments

Wow. I just uttered similar words with a community foundation board a couple weeks ago and I am happy to report had the same experience as Diane had with HER board.

. As with all forms of leadership the most critical key to success is to listen first. Leadership isn't arrogant. Leadership is an incredibly humble activity - you seek out perspective, you listen, you consider quietly, you actively consider with others. But, what makes leadership so vitally important is that someone is stepping into the void to not only get the ball rolling, but to agree to follow through once it is. Leaders don't walk away once something gets started. Nor do they stop listening.

There are true leaders and there are "toxic" leaders - those that mistakenly believe that leadership begins with a "what I say goes and the rest must follow" mentality. Guess what, that isn't really leadership at all. That's ego.

Surely, at some point, the leader must take responsibility for setting the course. But if they've done their job well, that course will be thoughtfully constructed, fully vetted, and patiently "sold" to important constituents.

Oh yeah, let's not forget that leaders also admit when they're wrong. But they don't stop leading.

Posted by: Nancy DeFauw