Leadership Insights: Foundations & Philanthropic Sector | CCL https://www.ccl.org/industry/foundations-philanthropy/ Leadership Development Drives Results. We Can Prove It. Thu, 20 Nov 2025 21:11:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 How Philanthropic Partnerships Are Strengthening Nonprofit Leadership in Southern Dallas https://www.ccl.org/client-successes/case-studies/philanthropic-partnerships-southern-dallas-leadership/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 13:47:38 +0000 https://www.ccl.org/?post_type=client-successes&p=63863 Learn how Southern Dallas Thrives, an initiative led by the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, collaborated with CCL to build stronger nonprofit leaders and community impact through strategic philanthropic partnerships.

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Foundations and nonprofits have long valued collaboration, but a group of funders in Southern Dallas is showing how working together strengthens leadership and builds internal capacity.

Together, they’re helping local nonprofit leaders grow and achieving results none could reach alone, demonstrating the power of a unified approach.

“The nonprofit work in our community is very rich, and as we look to expand its scale and sustainability, we recognize that it starts with the leaders,” says Ashley Douglas, Vice President of Southern Dallas Thrives, an initiative led by the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “This partnership is investing not only financially but also in the success of nonprofit leaders, their organizations, and the lasting impact they create.”

Building Leadership Capacity To Strengthen Impact

Southern Dallas faces challenges like limited access to quality education, economic opportunity, and healthcare — barriers shared by cities across the country and felt acutely here. Southern Dallas Thrives addresses these issues by delivering new programs, resources, capacity building, and partnerships to create real community impact.

Their Southern Dallas Roundtable brings together about 35 foundations from corporate, community, and family sectors to promote strategic, collaborative investment. Organizers help the roundtable focus on what to fund, how to fund it, and why it matters for both immediate and long-term results.

In recent years, Southern Dallas Thrives has also been asking local nonprofit executives about their challenges and examining existing capacity-building programs to look for gaps. An important theme emerged — community changemakers need more support for leadership development to keep making strong, lasting changes.

“Everything came back to giving our leaders the skills to be effective with funders and build relationships with other nonprofits,” Douglas says. “If leaders don’t feel confident in their skills to sustain and grow their work, that says a lot about the organization’s direction and potential to grow.”

Says Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew, a consultant who has worked in Southern Dallas for decades: “We wanted a program that could help leaders on the front lines do the work that they do even better.”

Although nonprofits recognized the need for leadership development, most lacked the budget to support it. That’s where a funder from the roundtable suggested the Center for Creative Leadership. We’re a nonprofit too — and as part of our mission, we provide leadership development opportunities that strengthen community and nonprofit leaders worldwide.

A Data-Driven Response to Leadership Needs

CCL joined a Southern Dallas Roundtable meeting where we discussed how to collaboratively identify the community’s leadership strengths and gaps, and how this would help us create a program tailored to those needs.

From these talks, we initiated a Leadership Explorer for the Nonprofit Sector (LENS) report focused on Southern Dallas. LENS is a free tool that helps funders and corporate social responsibility teams make data-based decisions about leadership development needs for their grantees or staff.  We received 49 anonymous responses from Southern Dallas nonprofit leaders, revealing which skills, competencies, and capabilities matter most  for success.

The report confirmed what funders and organizers had heard — nonprofit leaders want leadership development that closes capability gaps in areas such as data-driven decision making and change management, and helps them put skills into practice. It clarified the program’s vision by highlighting the specific growth priorities and preferred formats for learning.

“The report helped us make the case for why a leadership program mattered here,” Douglas says. “The LENS report’s data and detailed insights from so many organizations made CCL’s approach stand out.”

CCL's Leadership Explorer for the Nonprofit Sector (LENS) Infographic

Discussions with funders emphasized how leadership development for nonprofit executive directors creates a ripple effect — strengthening organizations, residents, neighborhoods, and the broader community — and how funders can link this impact to their investments when presenting to their boards.

Importantly, 4 funders in the Southern Dallas Roundtable came together to pool their resources and get the program started.

A Custom Leadership Program Takes Shape

Working with the partner foundations and Southern Dallas Thrives, CCL developed the Southern Dallas Executive Leadership Institute — a 9-month journey shaped by the LENS report and tailored to the needs of nonprofit leaders from many different backgrounds.

The first cohort includes 8 participants representing a range of nonprofits — from large organizations with multimillion-dollar budgets to smaller grassroots groups. This diversity was intentional to encourage sharing and learning among participants beyond the formal lessons. Douglas and Booker-Drew aimed for a more intimate experience than the traditional capacity-building programs in the area, which often included 50 or more people.

“Participants found a space, made specifically for them, where they could be vulnerable much earlier than expected,” Douglas says.

The journey combines assessments and 1:1 executive coaching with in-person learning sessions on topics such as Direction – Alignment – Commitment (DAC)™, influential leadership, Better Conversations Every Day, decision making, strategic thinking, and collaboration in funding.

There are leadership circles for honest reflection and sessions with funders and participants to share the program’s impact. These moments are helping to deepen learning and relationships, and to strengthen the work being done across Southern Dallas.

“Participants are gaining a supportive community that will help them sustain transformation after the program,” Booker-Drew says. “Funders are given an opportunity to walk alongside us during the program. Even funders who didn’t pay for this cohort have been showing up to hear first-hand about its impact.”

Douglas praises CCL’s authentic and flexible approach, which allowed the program to be tailored for Southern Dallas.

“Together, we curated a program specific to this community and moment,” she says. “There’s magic in that.”

Organizers Say

When leaders grow stronger, communities grow stronger. Investing in leaders and giving them the right tools makes their organizations more effective in serving the community.

Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew

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Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew https://www.ccl.org/testimonials/dr-froswa-booker-drew/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 15:30:04 +0000 https://www.ccl.org/?post_type=testimonial&p=64062 The post Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew appeared first on CCL.

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CCL Launches Online Professional Development for Nonprofits — Amplify: Heighten Your Impact™ https://www.ccl.org/newsroom/news/ccl-launches-amplify-an-online-development-program-for-nonprofits/ Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:20:11 +0000 https://www.ccl.org/?post_type=newsroom&p=63911 CCL announces the launch of Amplify: Heighten Your Impact™, a 6-week self-paced online course for nonprofit leaders and organizations that builds leadership skills and evaluation mindsets.

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The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)® announces the launch of Amplify: Heighten Your Impact™, a 6-week self-paced online course for nonprofit leaders that builds leadership skills and evaluation mindsets.

Based on over 50 years of leadership research and experience, Amplify is a flexible online nonprofit leadership program that positions participants to learn new skills to advance their missions and apply insights within their organizations — improving outcomes, increasing sustainability, and heightening impact. It offers engaging online learning, frameworks, and tools tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities faced by nonprofit professionals.

Amplify participants learn to navigate complex challenges, inspire teams, and adapt to an ever-evolving social sector landscape. The learning journey equips nonprofit professionals with the mindsets and skillsets needed to elevate their impact, cultivate resources to build momentum, and achieve outcomes aligned with their purpose.

The program focuses on expanding vital leadership and evaluation capabilities, including:

  • Learning Agility: Developing an evaluative mindset
  • Theory of Change: Staying focused and evaluating the programs in service of the mission
  • Direction – Alignment – Commitment (DAC)™: Approaching leadership as a social process and engaging all stakeholders
  • Social Identity & Emotional Intelligence: Understanding yourself to help inform strategic decisions
  • Evaluation Design & Data Collection: Measuring impact and alignment to organizational mission
  • Storytelling & Influence: Communicating your story for greater impact

It also features practical applications that participants can develop into actionable insights in real time, applying learnings directly to their work and throughout their organizations.

“Amplify is more than a course — it’s a catalyst for transformation,” said Marie Leonard, Digital Learning Product Manager at CCL. “We’re helping nonprofit leaders build the skills and confidence to lead with purpose, measure their impact, and create lasting change.”

The Amplify initiative was made possible through generous support from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, whose grant and PropelNext program design has enabled CCL to expand access to high-impact leadership development for mission-driven organizations.

The program has also been shaped by our philanthropic partners such as the Scattergood Foundation, which played a vital role in developing its evaluation framework. Their collaboration has helped to ensure Amplify is grounded in real-world impact measurement and aligned with the needs of nonprofit leaders working in behavioral health and social services.

“We believe in Amplify … because this nonprofit professional development program will better equip leaders to evaluate and improve their work and ultimately deliver on their missions,” said Joe Pyle, President of the Scattergood Foundation.

Early program participants are reporting increased confidence in leading teams, evaluating programs, and communicating their missions effectively.

The Amplify program may be offered as part of a larger leadership journey or as a custom program for social sector organizations. Learn more about our nonprofit leadership development expertise or the Amplify nonprofit leadership online course.

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Leadership During Uncertainty: A Proven Approach for Uncertain Times https://www.ccl.org/webinars/leadership-in-uncertainty/ Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:43:52 +0000 https://www.ccl.org/?post_type=webinars&p=63380 Watch this webinar to learn how, when facing uncertainty, it’s critical for all team members to ensure there is shared direction, alignment, and commitment. Discover how our leadership approach can strengthen your organization.

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About This Webinar

Nonprofit and philanthropic leaders are at the forefront of navigating leadership in uncertainty, especially in today’s world flooded with often conflicting and bewildering news. Amidst this uncertainty, the call for leadership is louder than ever. Traditional responses might have us turn to our positional leaders, expecting heroic actions. However, this dependent leadership approach may fall short when our goal is to create sustained, impactful change in our communities and the world.

Join us in this engaging webinar where we delve into our Direction – Alignment – Commitment (DAC)™ model. This model is a powerful tool that can guide teams, organizations, and communities through the unpredictable waves of change. We’ll demonstrate how this framework fosters essential dialogue for enduring leadership during uncertainty — instead of banking on a single hero.

What You’ll Learn

In this webinar, you’ll learn about leadership during uncertainty:

  • The essence of the DAC framework and its relevance in today’s context
  • Practical ways to implement the DAC model in your organization
  • The significance of embracing a process for leadership in uncertainty for better outcomes

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It’s Time to Break Up With Burnout. Here’s How. https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/its-time-to-break-up-with-burnout-heres-how/ Mon, 23 Jun 2025 19:22:43 +0000 https://www.ccl.org/?post_type=articles&p=57142 What can organizational leaders do to support their teams in overcoming burnout? Get our advice on dealing with burnout and creating conditions for everyone in your workplace to thrive.

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Research-Based Advice for Dealing With Burnout

What’s your current relationship status with burnout? Do you wish you could break up for good? You’re not alone.

Across the globe, individuals, organizations, and communities are experiencing increased stress and uncertainty — and as a result, employees are dealing with burnout at unprecedented levels.

The impact is staggering. A recent study from Mental Health America reports that 75% of workers are struggling with overcoming burnout, leaders at all types of organizations are being pulled in multiple directions in the face of physical, mental, social, and economic upheaval. With long hours and less funding, many nonprofit and health leaders, especially, are dealing with burnout themselves, and so may not feel equipped to offer their teams strategies to become more resilient and effective.

Leaders approaching or experiencing burnout may feel physical symptoms, cynicism about work, emotional exhaustion, and reduced performance.

Sound familiar? Remember, it’s not you. It’s burnout.

Our guide to leadership in disruption
In the face of perpetual crisis, leaders must adapt, not just react. Explore our guide to Leadership in Disruption to learn how leading with culture, vision, and collective agility helps organizations thrive through complexity.

How Organizations Can Support Their People in Overcoming Burnout

What can organizational leaders do to support their workers in dealing with burnout, and in tandem, address turnover rates? Senior leaders can bring intention and attention to creating the conditions for everyone to bring their best selves to work and foster an environment that supports their people and the communities they serve.

For the nonprofit and public health sectors in particular, philanthropic organizations and foundations can play several essential roles. First, grantmakers, executive directors, and senior leaders can consider their own personal and professional practices and how those are contributing to how they show up for their constituents. Second, they can stop doing anything that doesn’t support creating and cultivating the conditions for nonprofit teams and organizations to flourish.

Whatever your industry, if you’re a leader, you can build your own resilience by stopping and starting these 6 things to help create the conditions for colleagues to overcome burnout and “burn bright” instead.

Advice for Dealing With Burnout

6 Tips for Leaders: What to Stop & Start Doing

1. Stop repeating the same things. Start trying something new.

Do you feel like you’re living the same day over and over, like your own personal Groundhog Day movie? In addition to fostering boredom, unexamined routines can also diminish energy and focus. Consider how much you might be mindlessly defaulting to behaviors reinforced by burnout, and what you might do differently today to shake things up.

Our brains actually thrive, and we feel happier, when we have novel experiences. Brain research has found that a rush of dopamine comes with any new experience. And it doesn’t have to be big to be effective — even small changes can help to create an immediate shift in energy and focus.

Make a commitment to trying new things as a way of helping you and your colleagues with overcoming burnout. It could be as simple as trying a new route on a morning walk. How might you encourage others to try something novel? Perhaps add “sharing new things tried” to your one-on-one check-ins or an upcoming team meeting and start creating space for colleagues dealing with burnout to share ideas with one another.

2. Stop holding your breath. Start an intentional breathing practice.

You might not even notice that you hold your breath or take very shallow breaths during the day, especially when you feel pressure. The moment we get anxious or stressed, we can assume some control and agency by breathing properly. Even less than a minute of intentional breathing can make a big difference. The research is clear: if we breathe shallow and fast, it causes our nervous system to up-regulate, and we feel even more tense and anxious. But if we breathe slowly, taking a deep breath with a focus on our exhale, it turns on our body’s anti-stress response. Breathing is convenient, free, and a fast way to ground into a state of calm.

One simple practice for dealing with burnout is to anchor intentional deep breathing to something you do every day — maybe just before joining another online meeting, or as you transition from work to home tasks. You might experiment with expanding this practice to include everyone participating in a meeting you’re leading. Simply invite team members to breathe fully for one minute at the start, or take a pause for a “breathing break” in the middle.

3. Stop sending generic messages of thanks. Start personalizing gratitude.

Have you ever received a generic, “reply-all” thank you message that fell a little flat? You’re not alone. While the intent is positive and it’s better than no gratitude, it can lack sincerity and reduce the overall impact. Giving thanks will actually make you a better leader and personal notes that include specific details about the value of an individual’s contribution are far more effective than mass communications, research finds. Just 5–12 formal, individualized, sincere gestures of thanks per year can significantly cut an employee’s propensity to leave and help with overcoming burnout.

Take a couple of minutes and write a brief note (even just 2–3 sentences) to a person you’ve been meaning to thank at work. By doing so, you’ll not only share gratitude with the individual you’re sending the note to, but you’ll also be modeling this behavior for other leaders in your organization. Make it your practice to send your team members a brief but personalized thank-you note on a consistent basis.

4. Stop holding meetings by default. Start building an intentional meeting culture.

Meetings are a constant presence in our lives, and with the rise of the remote and hybrid workforce, they’re more prevalent than ever. Yet, meetings can be draining, feel like a waste of time, and force after-hours work. They can even feel isolating when there’s not an opportunity to connect. Meetings are critical to getting our work done, however, so take some time to really examine and update your organization’s meeting culture.

The next time you’re about to schedule a meeting, ask yourself the question, Is this meeting really necessary, or are we simply defaulting to a meeting because that’s how we’ve always done it? Consider whether you can handle the agenda via email or in a real-time messaging app, or explore shortening the allotted time. This allows people to avoid attending back-to-back meetings all day.

Lighten “Zoom fatigue” by making some virtual meetings audio-only when being on camera isn’t really necessary. Or, if it’s an option, suggest team members take the call while walking outdoors to incorporate some movement and fresh air. Bonus points if a walk-and-talk meeting can be done together in person. Meetings are a prime opportunity for connection, so make them count and use them to improve your organization’s virtual collaboration and communication practices.

5. Stop perpetuating a 24/7 work week. Start encouraging boundaries.

How have your boundaries around work and home shifted over the last few years? For many of us operating in a hybrid workplace context, we no longer “work from home” as much as we “live at work.” A boundaryless experience like this can take a serious toll on our health and contribute to burnout. Because of this shift, you may want to consider how you might be unintentionally creating expectations of working longer hours, including evenings and late nights, when your employees typically have been untethered from work.

If you or your colleagues are dealing with burnout, notice the communication patterns that have emerged for yourself and your team recently. If you find yourself often catching up on emails after hours or on weekends, reflect on this habit. How might you create or influence new expectations that support recharging and disconnecting from work? How can you actively support both a work ethic and a “rest ethic”? And what rituals can you start that signal to yourself that you’re “clocking out”?

Consider closing the laptop and leaving it in a designated workspace, collecting virtual or physical files and putting them away, or sending your team a friendly “I’m out and you should be, too” email at the end of the day or week, or when leaving on vacation. This will help your employees manage their work-life conflicts and increase their ability to unplug from work when the day is over or when they’re taking some much-needed time to rest and recharge.

6. Stop the early morning phone scroll and caffeine hit. Start your morning with intentional, mindful movement.

Do you check your phone before your feet hit the floor in the morning? Is making coffee or tea your next step after that? These behaviors, while very common, may be eroding your energy before your day even begins. Checking your email, social media, and texts as soon as your eyelids open quickly hijacks your attention and emotions, often triggering anxiety before you’ve even gotten out of bed. You’ve probably already heard the advice not to keep your smartphone in your bedroom — but turning off notifications, curbing social media use, and removing as many apps off your phone as possible are all helpful, too.

As for your unexamined caffeine routine, simply delay it a bit. When you wake up, the energizing hormone cortisol is at its peak — adding caffeine on top of that is like throwing a match on a fire that’s already crackling. You’ll experience a greater caffeine boost by waiting an hour or 2 if you can.

Replace that immediate screen time and caffeine jolt with a little movement — a quick walk, some yoga, or even just stretching — and then something mindful like journaling, reading, or listening to music for a few minutes. Then, hydrate with water before you caffeinate. Give it a try for a few days and see if your energy improves and if these practices help with overcoming burnout.

When you assess personal habits and default organizational practices that may be aggravating stress and burnout, you can start building a culture that values resilience and gives employees permission to take care of themselves. Be mindful about recharging and modeling those behaviors for your team, and say goodbye to dealing with burnout for good.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

As a nonprofit ourselves, we’re guided by purpose and fueled by passion, and we understand the need for strong, resilient leaders who are able to support themselves and their teams in dealing with burnout. Create the conditions for employees to bring their best selves to work with our resilience-building solutions, or partner with our nonprofit leadership experts to help build a more resilient organization for your people, your mission, and the communities you serve.

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Joe Pyle, MA https://www.ccl.org/testimonials/joe-pyle-ma/ Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:34:35 +0000 https://www.ccl.org/?post_type=testimonial&p=63278 The post Joe Pyle, MA appeared first on CCL.

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Participant https://www.ccl.org/testimonials/participant-3/ Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:32:54 +0000 https://www.ccl.org/?post_type=testimonial&p=63277 The post Participant appeared first on CCL.

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Executive Director https://www.ccl.org/testimonials/executive-director/ Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:31:50 +0000 https://www.ccl.org/?post_type=testimonial&p=63276 The post Executive Director appeared first on CCL.

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Ask the Expert: Guidance for Leadership in Uncertainty https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/leadership-in-uncertainty/ Mon, 05 May 2025 12:44:30 +0000 https://www.ccl.org/?post_type=articles&p=63065 Our expert tips and helpful framework will help nonprofit and social sector leaders navigate challenges when facing uncertainty so they can better serve their teams, organizations, and communities.

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In today’s unpredictable world, nonprofit and philanthropic leaders especially are often faced with uncharted waters. The challenges are many, and the path ahead is rarely clear. To help you navigate the challenges of leadership in uncertainty, Lynn Fick-Cooper, a seasoned social sector leadership expert, shares the importance of the leadership process and how it can guide organizations and leaders facing uncertainty.

How Might Our Definition of Leadership Be Surprising?

When people think of leadership or leaders, they often think of one person in a positional role of responsibility. We define leadership as a social process that occurs with any group or team, regardless of position. And even when someone holds the title or the position of leader, it’s rarely one heroic act that creates leadership. It always involves other people.

Therefore, it’s important to think about leadership as a property of a group of people co-creating something. This relational approach to leadership is essential in today’s complex and rapidly changing, uncertain environment.

Our guide to leadership in disruption
In the face of perpetual crisis, leaders must adapt, not just react. Explore our guide to Leadership in Disruption to learn how leading with culture, vision, and collective agility helps organizations thrive through complexity.

What Signs Indicate Leadership Is Present?

Leadership is a process, and processes create outcomes. So, you need to look at the outcomes that your leadership is intended to create. What are you trying to achieve with the act of leading or leadership?

In the context of a nonprofit or philanthropic organization, the desired outcomes might include increased funding, improved service delivery, or greater social impact. These outcomes require the collective effort of the entire team. They cannot be achieved by a single individual, no matter how competent or charismatic. This is why it’s crucial to consider leadership as a social process and to evaluate its effectiveness based on the outcomes it produces.

What Core Outcomes Does Effective Leadership Create?

Based on our research and extensive experience, we know that when leadership is effective, 3 primary outcomes are achieved: Direction, Alignment, and Commitment, or DAC. Our DAC framework helps us diagnose and improve the leadership process:

  • Direction refers to the shared agreement on the group’s goals. It’s not enough for the leader to have a clear vision or strategy; everyone in the group must understand and buy into this vision or strategy. This shared agreement on the direction is critical to effective leadership.
  • Alignment is about coordinating work across the group. It involves ensuring that everyone is working toward the same goals and understands how their role contributes to the overall success of the organization. Without alignment, efforts can become disjointed, and the effectiveness of the team can be compromised.
  • Commitment means that group members all feel mutually responsible for the group’s success, meaning they are willing to put the group’s needs above their own when necessary. This is perhaps the most challenging aspect of the DAC framework, as it requires individuals to put aside personal interests for the greater good. However, it’s also one of the most powerful aspects, as it fosters a sense of shared responsibility and ownership among team members.

Why Is the DAC Framework Vital for Leadership in Uncertainty?

When people are uncertain and can’t see the future clearly, especially if they’re in a leadership position, they tend to turn inward and feel the responsibility to be the source of clarity for the people they lead. They start to lean on their knowledge and skills, thinking they must figure it out by themselves.

In fact, the opposite is true. When facing uncertainty, the DAC framework becomes even more critical. When the future is unclear, and the environment is constantly changing, it’s vital to leverage the talents and perspectives of others and to have shared direction, alignment, and commitment from all team members.

Going through this process with other people allows you to surface assumptions that could otherwise lead you astray. In times of change and uncertainty, you may create your own narratives to function and make progress. By involving others in the process, you can challenge these assumptions and ensure everyone is moving in the same direction and working well together to achieve success. This leadership approach can help your team navigate through uncertainty and emerge stronger.

What Can Help Nonprofit & Philanthropic Leaders Navigate Uncertainty?

Involve your team. Leadership is a social, relational process. Include your team in setting and adjusting the direction, aligning efforts, and fostering commitment. This not only ensures that everyone is on the same page but also helps to build a sense of ownership and commitment among team members.

Communicate clearly and frequently. Make sure everyone understands the organization’s direction and their role in it. Clear communication is key to achieving alignment. Regular updates, meetings, and feedback sessions help keep everyone informed and engaged.

Monitor alignment and commitment. Regularly check in with your team to ensure their work is well-coordinated, especially in disruptive times. Pay attention to team dynamics and how well people are supporting one another amidst the complexity and uncertainty. This continuous monitoring can help you identify and address any issues early on, preventing minor problems from escalating into major challenges.

Be flexible and adaptable. In times of uncertainty, be prepared to adjust your direction, realign your team, and renew their commitment. Flexibility and adaptability are key to maintaining alignment and commitment in a changing environment. Don’t be afraid to change course if the situation demands it.

By focusing on the process of leadership and considering it a property of the group, you can steer your organization through the chaos and toward success.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Navigating leadership in uncertainty requires all team members to create direction, alignment, and commitment. If you, like us, believe in the power of leadership to drive social change, contact us to start a conversation about how we can partner together.

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Advancing Women’s Leadership With Lean In & The Sandberg Goldberg Bernthal Foundation https://www.ccl.org/client-successes/case-studies/sandberg-goldberg-bernthal-foundation-advances-womens-leadership-globally/ Fri, 21 Mar 2025 11:44:59 +0000 https://ccl2020stg.ccl.org/?post_type=client-successes&p=62049 Learn how CCL partnered with Lean In, an initiative of the Sandberg Goldberg Bernthal Family Foundation, to advance women leaders globally, helping them to strengthen their networks, lead authentically, and inspire others.

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Client Profile & Challenge

There is a significant lack of women, particularly women of color, in management positions. For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women achieve the same, and this disparity is even greater for Black women, with only 54 promoted for every 100 men, according to the Women in the Workplace report by LeanIn.org and McKinsey & Company.

Women face the “broken rung” phenomenon, where men at entry-level are promoted to managerial roles at much higher rates than women.

This early career setback puts women at a lasting disadvantage. Rachel Thomas, co-founder and CEO of LeanIn.org, emphasizes that this “broken rung” restricts women’s career progress. Despite some progress at higher levels, these advancements often come with caveats.

The Sandberg Goldberg Bernthal Family Foundation (SGB) is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting equality and resilience through 4 initiatives: LeanIn.org, Lean In Girls, OptionB.org, and the Dave Goldberg Scholarship Program. Launched in 2013, LeanIn.org supports Lean In Circles, small groups of women who meet regularly to empower each other personally and professionally. These Circles help women build confidence, develop leadership skills, and achieve their goals. Over 100,000 women in 183 countries have started Circles, with 85% of members reporting positive changes within 6 months of joining.

To enhance the leadership skills of regional Lean In Network Leaders, SGB partnered with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL). “We chose CCL for their exceptional reputation and expertise in leadership development,” said Nikki Pawsey, Director of the Global Network Leader Program. “Their global reach and commitment to co-creating a tailored leadership course for women aligned perfectly with our vision of empowering more women leaders in the workplace.”

Solution

CCL and SGB collaborated to create the Network Leadership Development Program (NLDP). This program is designed for mid-career women leaders, focusing on immediate and practical application to build confidence and navigate strategic leadership challenges. According to Pawsey, “Our primary goal was to offer our global network of volunteers the opportunity to develop their leadership skills in a way that would empower them both personally and professionally. We wanted to raise their level of self-awareness and provide tools for them to strengthen their ability to lead, inspire, and make a difference in their communities worldwide.”

The NLDP is a 3-month, multi-modal learning experience that includes:

  • Asynchronous preparatory learning in a custom online course
  • Offline peer discussions managed by participants
  • Live online sessions every other week to engage on topics
  • Pre-work including the WorkPlace Big Five Profile™, a senior leader interview, and defining a Key Leadership Challenge

The program elements designed to boost engagement and learning include:

  • Amplifying the collective power of broad, diverse networks
  • Strengthening and leveraging authenticity and credibility to gain trust
  • Developing leadership skills and preparing for career acceleration
  • Leveraging peer support to work through critical leadership challenges
  • Driving conversations and practices promoting belonging
  • Building a network of ambassadors to retain and advance women in organizations

CCL has completed 10 successful cohorts globally with more than 250 participants from diverse backgrounds and locations finding common ground in their volunteer leadership role with Lean In.

Results

Following the NLDP, participants have committed to applying their new insights and skills. They plan to:

  • Share knowledge with their teams
  • Foster resilient work cultures
  • Engage in networking and mentoring
  • Support other women in their professional journeys

By the Numbers

By the Numbers

Participants reported high levels of program satisfaction:

Engaging

93%

found the program as or more engaging than others

90%

overall program satisfaction reported by participants

Meaningful

89%

reported making meaningful connections with others

83%

said they are likely to recommend the program

The program has inspired participants to enhance their leadership skills, promote inclusivity, and focus on personal and professional growth. They are also eager to expand their professional networks and become more active in the Lean In community.

Participants have reported:

  • Increased assertiveness
  • Improved decision-making
  • Enhanced leadership presence
  • Greater focus on creating inclusive and diverse environments
  • Efforts toward equality

Many participants plan to use their new skills to advance their careers, start businesses, or take on new roles. Pawsey emphasized, “The impact of this partnership has been profound. Through CCL’s programs, our volunteers have not only grown as leaders but also built stronger connections within the network, fostering a sense of shared purpose and collaboration. We’ve seen enhanced confidence, creativity, and problem-solving skills amongst our community. Many of our leaders would not have the opportunity in their country to access such high-quality training.”

Participants Say

This course is not about theory; it has a practical approach that you apply during the time of the course. You leave with things that you use in your day-to-day life, not only tools you may (or may not) use one day.

Lean In NLDP Participant

[The NLDP is] packed full of useful online reference materials, practical resources led by experienced insightful facilitators who lead you to challenge your perceptions and lead others with authenticity.

Lean In NLDP Participant

It’s fantastic to grow your network globally and understand what it’s like to be a woman in leadership across many countries.

Lean In NLDP Participant

The post Advancing Women’s Leadership With Lean In & The Sandberg Goldberg Bernthal Foundation appeared first on CCL.

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