Leaders Who Make A Difference

Nanus and Dobbs argue that before someone can lead a nonprofit organization, he or she has to "earn the right to lead." To a certain extent, it's simply a matter of paying your dues -- working hard, weathering setbacks and learning from mistakes. But more than anything, nonprofit leadership grows from a consuming passion. Get involved and seek out leadership responsibilities.

Targeting those driven by social good more than profits, Leaders Who Make a Difference is a valuable reference for anyone who has or aspires to assume a leadership role in a nonprofit organization.

Shows how to use visionary and strategic process as powerful leadership tools. Each chapter begins with fascinating vignettes describing a great nonprofit leader and each leader's success. Nonprofit leaders will see how their job is divided into six equally important roles: visionary, strategist, agent of change, coach, politician, and campaigner. A detailed questionnaire helps leaders access their strengths and weaknesses.

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Shows how nonprofit executives build successful nonprofit organizations by developing key relationships. Describes six key roles that effective leaders must play, and presents inspiring examples for how their actions in these roles have been crucial to the success of large and small nonprofits. Nanus is professor emeritus of management at the University of Southern California, where he was also founder and director of the Center for Futures Research and director of the Leadership Institute. Dobbs is executive vice president of the Bernard Osher Foundation. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

BURT NANUS is professor emeritus of management at the University of Southern California, where he was also founder and director of the Center for Futures Research and research director of the Leadership Institute. The author or coauthor of nine other books, including the classic Leaders: Strategies for Taking Charge, he is a noted speaker and consultant on visionary leadership. STEPHEN M. DOBBS is executive vice president of the Bernard Osher Foundation and former CEO of the Koret Foundation and Marin Community Foundation. He is a former professor at San Francisco State University and has been a visiting scholar at Stanford, Harvard, University of London, and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Dobbs has been a community volunteer and leader with many nonprofit organizations.