The 5 Truths for Transformational Leaders

2Truth 2: Fix, Stabilize, or Replace Systems, Practices, and People Who Are Not Working

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

Barack Obama

I believe this observation is true for all leaders. If you are a board member or staff leader in an organization, the opportunity to change and transform the organizations you lead into a powerful force that changes lives, saves lives, achieves incredible results, and lifts entire communities is always there for you. But the journey to excellence requires a deep and fanatical commitment to mission. It requires the audacity to declare your intention to insist on excellence in every corner of the organization. It requires the discipline to never accept good enough. It requires unwavering belief and optimism in the capacity of the organization to continuously expand and improve. And it requires a commitment to make decisions, big and small, to support your mission‐driven aspirations.

Transformational leaders always believe the door is open. They begin making needed changes almost immediately. There are two critical areas that demand attention:

• First, they recognize that transformation begins by ensuring the organization operates with optimal efficiency and effectiveness. Transformational leaders establish systems, standards, process, and practices that govern day‐to‐day operations. They recognize they cannot make progress if they ...