GOD’S HEART FOR THE CITY The Bible is clear about God’s love for the city, be it Babylon, Nineveh, or Jerusalem. Thou- sands of years later, that love hasn’t changed—and God still calls His people to speak truth to the cities of the world. In City Chang- ers: Being the Presence of Christ in Your Community (David C. Cook), author Alan Platt offers practi- cal answers and inspiration for influenc- ing the spiritual, social, and cultural dimensions of readers’ communities. Through sharing his experiences of the church transforming cities from South Africa to South Florida, he shows the influence of Christ-followers willing to be instruments of change. INSPIRATION FOR LEADERS You want to be a great leader but you don’t know how to take the first step, and you feel like you don’t have enough time. You want to be positive but you're stressed out. You've read every leader- ship hack you can find but you're still stuck. In Lead- ership Inter- rupted: Daily inspiration to become the leader you were meant to be (CreateSpace) by Kevin DeShazo, you will get daily inspiration, often in less than five minutes, to challenge your thinking, reshape your perspective, and get rid of your ego. This book will be your leadership guide to help you learn to lead yourself and become a leader worth following. WWW.AGRM.ORG JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 59 SELF-DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NONPROFIT LEADER Few nonprofits have adequate funds or a formal program for staff, especially those to prepare mid-level managers for senior roles. So many mid-level nonprofit professionals must take responsibility for their own career development. Volunteer both inside and outside ofyour organization Volunteer to help with an event or a special project—especially those that expose you to other areas of the organization. These experiences can provide the well-rounded experi- ence that leadership roles require. Look for opportunities to get involved, rather than waiting to be asked. Also, look for volunteer roles—event planning, serving on a committee, or even a position on the board of directors—at other nonprofits whose missions closely match your values. Take advantage of certification pro- grams, informal peer networking, professional networking groups, and professional associations to make genuine connections with people. These allow you to form give-and- take relationships, rather than only connecting when you have an ulterior motive. Think big picture Rather than narrowly focusing on one field, capitalize on your strengths by applying them in a variety of areas to gain experience, and see where those areas connect. Constantly looking for new ways to learn and grow is a key to being a well-rounded nonprofit leader. Move on to move up Be willing to change organizations, or even locations, in pursuit of greater responsibility. Balance opportunities that present themselves in other places with a need to stay where you are and create a legacy within the organization. Surround yourself with supportive people Because of the responsibilities that come with the role, being an executive director can be lonely. As friendly and gregarious as you might be, there are moments when you probably feel like you’re by yourself. But if you surround yourself with people that care about you and want to support you it will be easier. Never stop learning Enroll in a training program. Read up on management and leadership topics. Create your own learning circle of respected peers, and meet regularly to discuss challenges and approaches. Regularly connect with other nonprofit leaders. Schedule lunch once a quarter with some- one at another organization and “pick their brains” about how they do things. Also, visit another nonprofit once or twice a year for a tour of their operations and look for ideas that would help your ministry. Initiate your own 360 evaluation Ask your board, colleagues, and people who report to you for candid feedback. You’ll find advice and help for doing this with a quick online search. Then ask a mentor to coach you on areas of weakness that are revealed.