Stepping into an Executive Director role, whether for the first time or with a new organization, can feel overwhelming. Where do you start? This guide provides a few tools to support leaders focus and set the foundation for a strong beginning.
As a new leader to an organization, it is critical to spend time early on building trust with the new team and learning about the whole organization (the visible and invisible sides). This will support being able to more effectively recognize, navigate, and mitigate conflicts. New leaders also need to be aware of the effects of power and systemic issues on staff’s perception of their leadership, and how to support staff experience more equitable workloads and workplaces. Finally, having a good grasp of fiscal management and the needs of an organization will give staff more confidence in a new Executive Director’s leadership.
More helpful Collections for New Executive Directors:
Resources in this Collection
New Executive Director Worksheet: The first 12 months
Stepping into the role of an Executive Director often feels like trying to drink from a fire hose —there’s a rush of information, expectations, and emotions all at once. The aim of this worksheet is to support Executive Directors (ED), who are new in their roles, with work planning and prioritizing their first 12 months.
Five Things You Wished You Knew Before Becoming an Executive Director
The following are five common reflections from long-term EDs of things they wish they had known when they first started their position.
Following a Founder or Long-Term Leader: A worksheet for new Executive Directors
This worksheet is designed to help a new ED step into leadership with clarity, especially when following a founding or very long-term ED whose relationships, decision-making habits, and public identity may be deeply woven into the organization.
Foundations of Management
Most conservationists and activists don’t have degrees in management, so we can struggle to create processes to set our staff up for success. This tutorial walks through a straightforward, five-part process that demystifies supervision and increases your ability to create a foundation for your staff that leads to more impact and less time spent dealing with personnel challenges.
Navigating Conflict On Your Team
Learn some key principles that can help you assess the sources of a conflict, illuminate possible pathways for resolvability, and begin to chart a course of action. We’ll explore the pathways and tools at your disposal for supporting individuals and influencing group dynamics so that your team can focus on their vital work advancing healthier environments for our communities.
Developing an Inclusive Culture
Developing an inclusive culture sounds great in theory, but what does that really mean? What is the difference between inclusive behaviors and inclusive culture? Through interactive content and discussion, we unpack why inclusive culture is critical for effective supervision and leadership. We examine components of organizational culture and identify elements of inclusive culture.
Related Webinars & Collections
Webinars
- Building Inclusive Boards: Strategies for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Designing an Effective and Inclusive Onboarding Experience
- Achieving Your DEI Vision and Goals: Change Team Strategy
- Bolster the Health of your Team by Building a Culture of Engagement and Inclusion
- Organizational Health – Function Effectively, Cope with Change, and Experience Growth