The 5 Truths for Transformational Leaders

The 5 Truths for Transformational Leaders

by Ed Mishrell
Released May 2023
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781394187003

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Book description

Use mission-driven leadership to create dramatic growth at your nonprofit 

In The Five Truths for Transformational Leaders: How Nonprofit Organizations Thrive, Grow, and Make a Profound Difference, former Chief Strategy Officer for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Ed Mishrell, delivers an insightful and practical discussion of how to achieve extraordinary results when leading nonprofit organizations. The author explains how to use your organization’s mission as your north star and build an exciting, growing, and thriving nonprofit. 

You’ll benefit from the book’s step-by-step guidance and advice as it outlines the five key principles of mission-driven leadership. You’ll also discover incisive quotes and observations from board members and staff leaders at fast-growing nonprofit organizations you can apply to your own nonprofit for immediate results. 

The book also offers:  

  • Strategies for eliminating or repairing ineffective systems and practices that are holding your organization back
  • Techniques for centering your nonprofit’s mission in everything it does
  • Ways to build – and execute – a mission-driven strategy 


A start-to-finish blueprint for exceptional, growth-oriented nonprofit leadership, The Five Truths for Transformational Leaders will revolutionize the work of every nonprofit board member, manager, and leader who reads it. 

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Foreword
  7. IntroductionThe Origin of the Five Truths for Transformational Leaders
    1. Chapter Organization
  8. 1 Truth 1: Be Fanatical About Mission
    1. Three Reasons for a Fanatical Believe in Mission
    2. Questions and Thoughts for Aspiring
    3. Mission‐Driven CPOs
    4. Notes for Board Members
    5. Resource Center for Truth 1
  9. 2 Truth 2: Fix, Stabilize, or Replace Systems, Practices, and People Who Are Not Working
    1. Fix and Stabilize Systems and Practices
    2. Make Needed People Changes
    3. Summary
    4. Notes to Board Members
    5. Resource Center for Truth 2
  10. 3 Truth 3: Establish a Mission‐Driven Strategy
    1. A Mission‐Driven Strategy
    2. Summary
    3. Notes for Board Members
    4. Resource Center for Truth 3
  11. 4 Truth 4: Execution Drives Results
    1. Relentlessly Communicate Strategy at Every Opportunity
    2. Focus on What Is Most Important
    3. Establish an Annual Plan with Clear Priorities, Targets, and Progress Measures
    4. Execute the Plan
    5. Summary
    6. Notes for Board Members
    7. Resource Center for Truth 4
  12. 5 Truth 5: Continue to Grow as a Leader
    1. Let's Start at the Beginning
    2. Leadership Changes
    3. Four Keys to Continuously Growing as a Leader
    4. Summary
    5. Notes for Board Members
    6. Resource Center for Truth 5
  13. 6 The Road Ahead: Trends and Challenges That Will Shape the Future
    1. Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities
    2. What Will Be Required of Leaders?
    3. Developing the Next Generation of Leaders
    4. Final Thoughts
    5. Notes for Board Members
    6. Resource Center for The Road Ahead
  14. Resource Center
    1. Truth 1: Be Fanatic About Mission
    2. Resources to Support Hiring a CPO
    3. Fanatical About Mission Worksheet
    4. Preparing a 100‐Day Plan
    5. Sample 100‐Day Plan
    6. CPO Guide to Building Relationships Conversation Starters
    7. Suggested Questions for Initial Meetings with Individual Board Members
    8. Truth 2: Fix, Stabilize, or Replace Systems, Practices, and People Who Are Not Working
    9. Resources for Board and Staff Members to Support Human Resource Management
    10. Worksheet to Identify What Systems, Practices, and Policies Need to Be Fixed, Repaired, or Replaced
    11. Suggested Interview Questions Related to Mission and Motivation
    12. Truth 3: Establish a Mission‐Driven Strategy
    13. Strategy Development Process Overview and Questions for Leaders
    14. Strategy Development Process
    15. Developing and Implementing an Outcome Measurement Strategy
    16. Resources to Support Developing a Logic Model
    17. Recommended Reading About Measurement
    18. Logic Model Template
    19. Resources to Guide Selecting Indicators
    20. Guidelines for Collecting Accurate Data
    21. Resource Development Resources
    22. Truth 4: Executing Drives Results
    23. Planning and Leading Effective Meetings
    24. Truth 5: Continue to Grow as a Leader
    25. Resources to Support Developing a CPO Performance Review
    26. Succession Planning Resources
    27. 360‐Feedback Process
    28. Leadership Changes Assessment
    29. The Road Ahead
  15. References
  16. About the Author
  17. Index
  18. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: The 5 Truths for Transformational Leaders
  • Author(s): Ed Mishrell
  • Release date: May 2023
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781394187003