Introduction
In a fundraising workshop held in Vienna, I aimed to shock participants into recognizing the critical importance of leadership at all levels within their organizations. Using the theme “Fundraising on the Titanic,” I shared images of the grand British passenger liner, RMS Titanic, soon after it departed from harbor and as it tragically sank in the Atlantic. The central question posed was: What went wrong, and who was responsible?
The Titanic Disaster
The RMS Titanic, famously deemed unsinkable, launched on April 2, 1912, sailed from Southampton, England, on April 10, and tragically sank on April 14 within just three hours. Out of 2,224 passengers, more than 1,500 lost their lives. Subsequent analysis revealed a cascade of errors and misjudgments:
The captain was overconfident and aimed to set a new transatlantic speed record.
He proceeded too rapidly, based his plans on incorrect weather assessments, and ignored iceberg warnings.
Officers failed to speak up, lookouts were not properly equipped, lifeboat drills were canceled, and numerous other issues were evident.
Substandard rivets in the bow, unsealed bulkheads, sailing too fast, ignoring warnings, ill-equipped lookouts, insufficient lifeboats, inadequate drills, and chaotic evacuation all played a part.
Some lifeboats were less than half filled, and a nearby steamer did not respond to distress flares.
The underlying cause of this catastrophic event was a failure of leadership at all levels, not just the top.
Leadership Failures and Lessons
The Titanic story serves as a powerful metaphor for the crisis facing any nonprofit organization that does not empower leaders at every level to address critical issues. The key takeaway is that the biggest challenge in any situation – and the solution to fundamental problems – is leadership at all levels. If just one person on the Titanic had stood up in the right way, the catastrophe could have been averted.
A more recent sea disaster, the sinking of a South Korean passenger ferry in 2014, which resulted in the deaths of more than 300 people, underscores this point. Again, a failure of leadership at many levels led to the tragedy.
The Role of Leadership in Nonprofits
The leadership challenges are similar for nonprofit organizations. Top leaders need to move forward with care and attention. Leaders at all levels need to step up with concerns and solutions. Those in charge need to listen to others who are closer to what is happening. The strategic plan sets the framework, but everyone needs to act based on their own assessments. Organizations need to check and improve the basic construction and daily operation of their organizational structure.
No one should rely on exaggerated beliefs in how good they are – no organization is “unsinkable.”
Preventing Crises
Preventing a crisis in a nonprofit organization is not solely the responsibility of the executive director (the “captain”). It involves the collective responsibility of supporting leadership and others who should stand up and speak up. The following questions are crucial for preventing a crisis:
How can we prevent a crisis or a problem?
Which systems or checkpoints are not working?
Which tools, training, or budgets are inadequate?
Where is our openness to others on staff to lead?
Where is our crisis or problem response plan?
What are we missing?
The Role of Fundraisers and Supporting Staff
If you are a fundraiser or supporting staff member or a volunteer, you have an opportunity to step up as a leader for the good of your organization. You can help avert problems and failures. Sometimes, it’s the “blatantly obvious” issue that is ignored – the issue you can readily see, bring to light, and help to resolve. I saw when I was an executive director that other staff often saw a problem (or an opportunity) before I did and learned to encourage them to keep their eyes wide open and step up in ways that led us to ever improving performance and results.
Conclusion
The story of the Titanic is a stark reminder of the importance of leadership at all levels. By learning from these historical events, nonprofit organizations can foster a culture of proactive leadership and vigilance. This approach ensures that critical issues are addressed before they escalate into crises. For more insights on effective leadership and strategies to enhance your organization’s impact, visit NGOFutures.com for free resources and discounts on paperback books.
If you are a fundraiser, staff member or volunteer, you can step up to avoid problems or disasters. If you are a board member or executive director, you should work to open leadership opportunities to others.
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