Leadership styles in nonprofit organizations serving at-risk populations

Leadership

Response to Post #1

Your example of Shaar Mustaf, founder and leader of the Take Charge Juvenile Diversion Program, Inc. does exemplify the value of programs dedicated to helping at-risk individuals, especially young people, to overcome some of the most serious challenges they face in becoming productive and law-abiding members of society. However, I am not clear from your post what style or personal philosophy of leadership Mr. Mustaf uses to achieve the worthwhile objectives of the Take Charge Juvenile Diversion Program. I would be curious to know how much of his success and that of the organization and program is a function of his substantive knowledge and the effectiveness of the organization in other areas and how much of the success of the organization and program might be directly related to leadership style or leadership effectiveness on the part of Mr. Mustaf and, more generally, within the hierarchy of the entire program.

Response to Post #2

I would agree completely with your explanation of the concept of transformational leadership in general. However, I would be curious to know exactly how Dr. Nicole Holmes of the Denver Center for Women and Children has implemented transformational leadership in the organization. Similarly, I would be curious to know whether Dr. Holmes uses the same type of leadership approach with personnel who are already independently passionate and involved in the cause of providing shelter for battered, abused, and exploited women and children as she uses with other personnel who might not have any prior background in or orientation toward those organizational objectives.

I would be curious to know what specific types of leadership approaches or mechanisms Dr. Holmes uses to increase personal involvement in and personal orientation toward furthering the principal causes of the organization with those employees who do not bring an extensive background in or awareness of the issues and whether Dr. Holmes ever employs other approaches such as charismatic leadership to achieve the goals of the organization. Finally, I would be curious how other leaders within the organization are trained to provide the type of leadership demonstrated by Dr. Holmes at other levels within management and supervision within the organization.

Response to Post #4

I would completely agree with your post in so far as your explanation of the importance of recognizing the specific objectives of their organizations, their understanding and ability to promote positive change, and the importance of timing with respect to many types of leadership decisions. In principle, the ability to think critically and to project the objectives of the organizations into the future might be critical skills for organizational leaders in their strategic role of charting the course of their organizations.

However, I would be curious to know what type of leadership approach the Mayor relies upon within his organization to achieve those organizational objectives and short-term goals. Since being Mayor of Terre Haute, Indiana obviously entails oversight of many different types of municipal and other functions and services, I would be curious to know whether the Mayor employs different types of leadership approaches within different municipal and organizational components.

Furthermore, I would imagine that in order to maintain organizational effectiveness throughout all areas of his responsibility, the Mayor would have to establish a specific leadership culture throughout his administration and at all levels of local government administration and oversight. In that regard, I would be curious to know what type of training or candidate selection criteria or processes the Mayor uses to promote his desired leadership style throughout city government. Likewise, I would also want to know how the Mayor selected his immediate circle of executive staff and his immediate subordinates in connection with their leadership styles, abilities, and previous accomplishments.