Author: Jennifer Watson
Years ago, during an unusually busy day at the office, I ripped open a note addressed to me, glanced at the signature and stopped.
The heavy stationary bore the handwriting of Joanne Holbrook Patton, wife of Maj. Gen. George S. Patton and daughter-in-law of the famous World War II general. The lengthy note contained her thanks for my assistance on a conference she was helping to organize on volunteer administration.
I'd met Mrs. Patton only once, and I'd found her imposing and precise--very much a general's wife. I was surprised she'd taken the time to write in response to a small favor. I later learned she wrote at least one thank-you note a day. In her mind, it was part of the discipline of leadership--a way of encouraging behavior that helped achieve important goals.
Her gesture stayed with me over the years because it exemplifies a communications talent that the best nonprofit leaders share. Striving to achieve difficult goals with few financial and staff resources, nonprofit leaders have mastered the art of constant, personalized communication. They know how to relate to donors, clients, volunteers, employees and others, and they convey their vision in a way that resonates with each group.
As a communicator, I've learned a great deal from working with talented nonprofit leaders, such as Kristy Judd of Metro Volunteers, Mag Strittmatter of the Jeffco Action Center, Mark Ely of Pura Vida and others. They understand that communication is a leadership tool, and they use that tool well.
If you want to grow professionally, one great way to start is by serving on a nonprofit board and watching how closely well-managed nonprofits stay in touch with their key audiences. They know they must communicate a shared vision and reinforce how each person contributes to it. They understand that consistent, personalized communication is a must, not a "nice to do." It's a lesson in leadership for us all.
This post is part of a series on volunteering or working with nonprofit organizations. We’d love to hear about your experiences as well.
