“Robinson. Transformational Leadership In A Non Profit Organization (Npo)” in “Robinson. Transformational Leadership in a Non-Profit Organization (NPO)”
Transformational Leadership in a Non-Profit Organization (NPO)
Jacob Robinson
Background
Main Street Hobart is a non-profit organization with an emphasis on bringing commerce, events and activity to the downtown district of the city of Hobart. The organization is run primarily by volunteers, with a Program Director and an Administrative Assistant as paid staff. The Board of Main Street Hobart is tasked with hiring a new Program Director, as the position became vacant.
The Dilemma
With a recent spike in criminal activity in the district, the NPO has had difficulty recruiting volunteers, and it is crucial that the new Program Director be well suited for the position, and passionate about the development and enhancement of the downtown district. The position is unique in that success is not easily quantifiable; rather it is measured by attitudes and public perception of the downtown Hobart district.
Decision-Making Process
The Board narrowed their search down to three applicants for the Program Director position.
Applicant A [Transactional Leader]: Retired corporate CEO who is new to Hobart. Looking to get back in the workforce, using her business sense to guide and educate the small business owners in the area. Driven by numbers and monetary success.
Applicant B [Transformational Leader]: The husband of a small business entrepreneur, heavily invested in the community as a stay-at-home father of two young children. He is passionate about the advancement of downtown Hobart and the experience of the patrons. His family lives in an apartment above one of his wife’s stores.
Applicant C [Pseudotransformational Leader]: Hopeful County Sheriff candidate seeking a spot on the ballot for next term which is in three years. She is very well-connected and respected in the city; however it is clear that her political agenda is the driving force behind her application. The current Sheriff has not ‘played well’ with Main Street Hobart, and Applicant C is using this to her advantage.
The Decision
The board chose Applicant B, as he stands out amongst the other applicants as genuinely invested and connected in the community.
Outcomes
Applicant B demonstrated a strong ability to recruit volunteers, used his connection within the downtown district to seek out the needs of the business owners and their patrons, and has created programs encouraging community youth to become involved in the future of the downtown development.
Discussion Questions
How would Applicant B have used emotional appeal to draw in volunteers and increase their interest in the NPO?
In what way could Applicant A have benefitted Main Street Hobart with a Transactional Leadership style?
What possible negative consequences could have come from the hiring of a Pseudotransformational Leader such as Applicant C?
License
This case study is licensed CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
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