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Leader, You Are Unusual....But Not Alone
Brian Kreeger • Nov 17, 2021
Leaders often go into their new positions
a bit starry-eyed. They overplay the benefits of their leadership role and underplay the challenges. They think of that nice new office, the heightened level of respect they will receive, the larger platform, the ability to enact their own ideas, and the decisions they make impacting a lot more people.
Things might go well for a period as the new leader settles into their new responsibilities. They talk about the future and the changes they are going to make that will benefit the clients and the employees. They give the impression that it is going to be much easier on everyone with them in charge.
Then—surprise!—the honeymoon ends. Problems start coming from all directions. The reality of why their predecessor is not there anymore sinks in. Eventually, the executive’s eyes are opened when the problems find their way to their door. They’re a wake-up call: the financial issues, the human-relations issues, the operational issues, the community-image issues, the fundraising issues, etc.
On top of all that, whom can the leader trust? Who is their ally? Are they all alone? Where did the board go?
There’s also the reality that the leader has to act on behalf of, or in tandem with, many other parties- from board members and major donors to stakeholders, volunteers, and recipients of services.
(This blog focuses on starting a conversation centered on preventing the fall of nonprofit leaders. I write it from a Christian perspective, but all leaders will benefit. Be sure to sign up to receive these articles via email every Tuesday at
briankreeger.com as well as taking a look at previous blog articles. In addition to receiving these articles two days before they hit social media, you will receive the article "5 Early Indicators of a Christian Nonprofit Leadership Fall" along with the Contents, Introduction and the Appendix (My story) of my book,
The Courageous Ask: A Proactive Approach to Prevent the Fall of Christian Nonprofit Leaders.)
Many leaders with years under their belts
recognize this entire process as part of the deal and handle it well. Many reading this fall into that category.
But there are also many leaders, whether they are newly promoted, just hired, or even those with much experience, who struggle when the surprises are revealed in their new organization or role.
The perspective they have of their position has now become more balanced. Yes, the benefits of being the leader are great, but the challenges that come along with those benefits are more difficult than they initially thought. They begin to wonder why they left their last job and why they made the choice. They were so good at it, and things were under control.
In other articles I dig deeper into the challenges of leadership. But right now, only a few months into their new position, the leader is finding their view of leadership changing. In all probability, they are ready to face whatever is thrown at them. But today the position is just not what they envisioned only a few months ago.
There are tons of variations in the account above concerning an executive leader coming into a new leadership position. Whether you are a totally green, brand-new leader, or a tenured, very experienced leader, we have all been surprised that things are not always what they seem at the outset of a new assignment.
Many times, these experiences lead to loneliness and isolation. And loneliness and isolation are usually at the core of leadership falls.
Hmm. I’ll bet this sounds a little too familiar, right?
Leader, I write this to let you know you are NOT alone. No matter how hard your peers try to hide it, they all deal with these same issues, some more than others. I have seen this repeatedly as I have pulled back the curtain on leaders who seem to be doing well.
Leader, you are unusual. You have stepped out of the crowd to better the lives of others through a nonprofit vocation. You could make more money elsewhere and have all the perks of corporate leadership.
You have chosen to place the target of leadership on your back. You have chosen to have your judgment continually questioned and to stand strong in your convictions among public scrutiny. Most times the reward in this difficult Christian journey will not be seen by those on earth, or even you.
This reminds me of a sermon
I once heard about a couple of guys who were able to stay focused and carry out their calling, even among heavy public scrutiny.
The sermon I am referring to spoke of how God desires people to step up and be part of the 17 percent. At the time I heard this it was very motivating, and it has stuck with me and helped me in my personal leadership.
What do I mean by the 17 percent?
In Numbers 13, after the Israelites came out of Egyptian captivity, the Lord tells Moses to send out some men to explore the land of Canaan, “which I am giving to the Israelites.” That’s kind of the ultimate spoiler. Moses is going to have to fight his way to victory, but the Lord already told him he will take the land.
Moses sends out 12 men, one from each tribe. He gives specific instructions on how they are to go, what they are to look at, and what they are to report back on. The group returns in 40 days with their report.
The men detail all the great things that can be found in this new land. They declare that, yes, it is a land full of milk and honey. They even bring back some of the incredible fruit they found there.
But then the report turns ugly, as they talk about how strong and powerful the people are. They tell Moses and his brother Aaron that they “cannot attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” They tell of how vast and fortified the cities are. They then go out and spread the same defeatist report among the Israelite people.
The people end up rebelling against Moses, even wishing they had died in Egyptian captivity. It isn’t pretty.
Of the 12 that went to Canaan to explore the land, there are two who give a different report. They stick with the promise that God gave to Moses even though they saw the same things the other 10 did.
The two are Joshua and Caleb, and they represent 17 percent of the group. They continue to remind the people that “the Lord is with us.” But the crowds are heavily influenced by the other 10, thinking they are crazy. Everyone is wrought with fear and even talks of stoning Joshua and Caleb.
Most leaders reading this
have chosen to be in that 17 percent. No matter what your motivation is, you have chosen to swim against the tide, to think outside the box, to sacrifice a part of yourself in the interest of the advancement of some mission greater than yourself.
You have chosen to focus on that mission, and that carries you past all the difficulties and discouragements along the way. You have chosen to be unusual.
You have chosen, and that benefits all the people around you. Remember that.
I am so thankful for you! The people around you are thankful for you! Those you serve are thankful for you!
Stay Courageous!
Be Proactive!
Be sure to sign up to receive these articles via email every Tuesday at
briankreeger.com. In addition to receiving these articles two days before they hit social media, you will receive the article "5 Early Indicators of a Christian Nonprofit Leadership Fall" along with the Contents, Introduction and the Appendix (My Story) of my book,
The Courageous Ask: A Proactive Approach to Prevent the Fall of Christian Nonprofit Leaders.
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Executives -pastors or nonprofit executives in our context- are put on a pedestal. It’s not that the typical person necessarily believes they belong there or desires to put them there. But it is human nature that this happens. The general public often places much higher expectations on leaders than they do on themselves. Sometimes it is appropriate, and the leader has put themselves in that position. In some cases, it is simply scriptural. For instance, James 3 points out that those who teach will be judged more strictly, thereby heightening the expectations of those who lead and teach. But what about when we accept, and enact, those elevated expectations and forget the humanity of our leaders? Often a community heaps on a leader the expectation that they are to perform with the perfection of Jesus and not simply be a Jesus follower and disciple just like them, but with a unique calling and heightened responsibility. Too many times when a leader shows human imperfection, the respect we have for them is damaged. Leaders fall under strict judgment, and we forget they are no less fallible than us. The imperfection they have colors any positive experience we would have had with them otherwise. While most of us acknowledge this strict, hypocritical judgment and recognize it as not being how we want to treat our leaders, it is a difficult battle to fight in our own attitudes and minds. No matter who the leader is, they are not Jesus. But please allow me to reverently make some comparisons. (This blog focuses on starting a conversation centered on preventing the fall of nonprofit leaders. I write it from a Christian perspective, but all leaders will benefit. Be sure to sign up to receive these articles via email every Tuesday at briankreeger.com as well as taking a look at previous blog articles. In addition to receiving these articles two days before they hit social media, you will receive the article "5 Early Indicators of a Christian Nonprofit Leadership Fall" along with the Contents, Introduction and the Appendix (My story) of my book, The Courageous Ask: A Proactive Approach to Prevent the Fall of Christian Nonprofit Leaders. )
You are the community, no matter what formal role you play in a particular organization, or if you play any role at all. My blog articles typically focus on the roles the leader and the board have in preventing the fall of Christian nonprofit leaders. But I contend that the community that exists around organizational leaders and boards has a role as well. In fact, a community’s role can many times be much bigger. My next few blog articles will focus on the role of the community in preventing the fall of Christian nonprofit leaders. (This blog focuses on starting a conversation centered on preventing the fall of nonprofit leaders. I write it from a Christian perspective, but all leaders will benefit. Be sure to sign up to receive these articles via email every Tuesday at briankreeger.com as well as taking a look at previous blog articles. In addition to receiving these articles two days before they hit social media, you will receive the article "5 Early Indicators of a Christian Nonprofit Leadership Fall" along with the Contents, Introduction and the Appendix (My story) of my book, The Courageous Ask: A Proactive Approach to Prevent the Fall of Christian Nonprofit Leaders. )
