What makes an amazing charity leader

We’ve all encountered the amazing charity leaders that help steer organisations through challenges.  But leaders don’t always have to be the helm. They can be successful managers, volunteers, or trustees.

Recognising them isn’t always easy – there are many adjectives to describe remarkable charity leaders. Taking stock of successful ones, we go over what makes an amazing leader, and top tips on how to be one.

What makes an amazing leader?  

Leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Civil Society reports on the essential traits of a successful charity boss.

Amongst ten qualities that make one noticeable, resilience is near the top of the list. Citing the report Thriving in the age of disruption: How leaders are adapting for the future, Civil Society says: “resilience was an important and growing issue. As charity leaders found themselves facing difficult conditions, self-belief and the ability to carry on in the face of difficulty were vital traits.” 

At Charity Digital, we recognise the best charity digital leaders that make a difference in the sector. We count Simon Gillespie, CEO of British Heart Foundation; Seyi Akiwowo, Executive Director and Founder, Glitch; and Kate Lee, CEO of CLIC Sargent amongst the best.

They all do an excellent job steering their charities through adversity. To round out their skills, they have also helped develop digital programmes across their organisations.  

There are other views. The Guardian says five personality traits make a great charity leader. They are extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness. These characteristics are the hallmarks of amazing leaders because these individuals possess extraordinary emotional intelligence.  

The crux is simple: “the importance of emotional intelligence, (which is strongly related to the measurable trait of neuroticism) is taken as a crucial attribute of successful leaders. In the charitable sector, this ability is even more necessary – where values, ethics and social justice are normal.”

What can leaders excel at?

One thing is for certain – amazing leaders excel at their speciality. While not every head is the boss of an organisation, they are in command of certain ‘things.’ Many have also been honoured as champions in their field.  

Polly Neate is the top boss at Shelter UK. What makes her special is her ability to steer her organisation and face criticism head on. She’s been at the helm since 2017 and has been transforming how the charity operates. Subscribing to the Better Way leadership principles, Polly is radically changing the culture. She’s focused on supporting frontline staff and campaign teams.

In addition to reforming operations, she’s been profiled for her approach to online bullying. For her, the approach is to de-escalate the situation rather than rising to the anger.  

While Polly is at the pinnacle of Shelter, other leaders take on different roles. Maddie Stark is an exemplary model in the digital space. She is a Development Officer at the SCVO, and owns a significant online presence.

Maddie writes an influential blog on the SCVO’s website and commands over 1,000 followers on Twitter. Her digital persona won the Social CEO’s Best Digital Champion Award for 2019. The award recognised her perseverance in pushing digital forward not only at the SCVO, but within the sector.

How can you become an extraordinary leader? 

Being an extraordinary leader is all about teamwork and being open to observation and new ideas. It’s not about being knowledgeable or ambitious.  

• There’s no “I” in team 

Amazing leaders recognise that they can’t go at it alone. INC magazine underscores the importance of team work. The top piece of advice for incoming leaders is to take care of their teams.

The consequences are fruitful: “When you commit to a work culture in which you take care of the needs of your employees, innovation will flourish, your employees will be more loyal to you, and the company and customers benefit as a result.”  

• Be inspirational 

Undeniably, amazing charity leaders are inspirational. When heading up a charity, Talk Business magazine says that bosses need to set an example for their audiences. They may be actively involved in fundraising or volunteering and inspire those around them.

The magazine also suggests having clear goals. The transparency helps audiences see the potential change they can be part of.  

• Practice communication 

What most experts agree on is communication. Star leaders have an exceptional ability to communicate their message across social media, in-person, or within the organisation. They are able to gauge audiences, convey what the charity’s aims are, and get desired results.

Most of all, leaders are human – communication skills aren’t grown overnight. To get started, resources are available. The NCVO offers specific courses as part of charity leadership training.