Greenlights for Nonprofit Success

Executive Transitions:
A Time for New Leadership

One of the most important and exciting decisions a board makes is hiring a new Executive Director.
Are you ready?

Hiring a new leader for you nonprofit presents a unique chance to assess the current state of your organization, evaluate and build consensus for the organization's mission and vision, and make a strategic hire that will take your nonprofit to a new level of success. Though it can seem overwhelming, Greenlights can help you turn the transition time of risk and concern into one of opportunity and progress. Schedule a consultation with Tara Kirkland, Director of Consulting, to learn more.

“Our work with Greenlights helped us to manage our critical leadership transition with minimal stress and optimal results!"
      - Suzanna Caballero, Board Member, Leadership Austin

You're not alone!
Research suggests that many Executive Directors will be stepping down in the near future. In a 2007 survey of Central Texas nonprofit executives, two-thirds of current executives indicated that they plan to leave their positions within five years. Yet fewer than half have a formal succession plan.

How we can help

Greenlights has developed a set of resources and processes to help you manage finding and placing a new Executive Director. We will work with you through every step, from developing a succession plan to placing an Interim Executive Director, managing the search process, and getting your new Executive Director off to a strong start. Our Greenlights Interim ED or transition management consultant can also help you objectively diagnose the organization’s strengths and weaknesses so you will know exactly what skills to look for in your new Executive Director.

 

Contact us to learn more about how our services can help. We are happy to provide references if you wish to talk with a former client.

 

Our executive transition services include:

 

• Placing an Interim Executive Director to maintain high quality services
• Assessing the current organization to understand leadership priorities
• Guiding the search process through the creation of a transition committee and supporting their activities, such as crafting and posting the position and reviewing and interviewing candidates
• Supporting the Interim Executive Director and the board throughout the transition
• Providing hands-on guidance for your board from experienced consultants
• Coaching the board and new Executive Director to ensure you are all poised for success

We also have free transition management resources, including tips and best practices, which can be found in our Resource Library under Executive Transition Management.

 

5 things you can do to capitalize on leadership changes:

1. Hire an Interim Executive Director. A trained, objective professional can fill the leadership gap and lead essential changes without having a personal stake in the job search. If you are transitioning from a long-term or founder ED, an Interim ED also gives the staff and organization time to take a deep breath and acclimate to the loss of that leader before a new ED arrives.

2. Conduct an organizational assessment. Before crafting a job description, take time to assess the health, needs, and risks your organization is facing. This will allow you to make a check list of things to take care of before the new ED arrives and will enable you to craft a job description and hire for the jobs that need to get done at your nonprofit.

3. Get caught up. Work on your neglected to-do list so that your new ED can focus on moving forward instead of catching up.

4. Eliminate things you know don’t work. If there is an out-of-date filing system or other dead weight at your nonprofit, take care of problems before the new ED arrives. When your new ED is in place, their first few months are key to setting the tone of their tenure, so help ensure a positive beginning.

5. Communicate regularly with your stakeholders. By communicating regularly with your funders, clients, and other supporters you make sure they know that things are being handled responsibly and thoughtfully during the transition. Depending on an individual’s history and involvement with your organization, you can even involve them in steps during the transition to reinforce their commitment to the nonprofit and have them experience the informed decisions of the transition first-hand.

 

 

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