Contemplation, Reflection & Leadership

It is well understood that it is crucial for effective leadership to have the opportunity for long periods of reflection and contemplation to charge the internal batteries and ponder longer term strategy.

Within the nonprofit sector—and the small nonprofit organizational world in particular—the wherewithal to enjoy the benefits of this type of retreat are rare.

This is a news release about a report from Compass Point that examines the terrain, and with a link to a free download of the report.

An excerpt.

“Sabbaticals for nonprofit leaders can be a relatively inexpensive but highly productive capacity-building tool that yields measurable results. Creative Disruption: Sabbaticals for Capacity Building and Leadership Development in the Nonprofit Sector provides emerging evidence of the benefits to nonprofit organizations, leaders, funders, and the sector.

“This study exposes the myth that an executive sabbatical will be a chaotic disruption, finding instead that the creative disruption of a well-planned sabbatical can be productive for the entire leadership of an organization.

“Organizational capacity is increased as the second tier of leadership takes on new responsibilities. Governance is strengthened as a result of the planning and learning that goes with a sabbatical process. Executive directors come back rejuvenated, with a fresh vision and innovative ideas, and tend to extend their tenure with the organization. And funders gain a deeper perspective on community needs from the feedback, networking, and innovative ideas that sabbatical alumni bring.”