The Leadership Lantern Series- Part 2
5 Lessons From Building A Non-Profit- The Nation Building
Want to know what felt like chewing glass for a decision I took 30000 ft above the ground?
I was part of AIESEC Delhi IIT Chapter during my graduation when I knew what most of NGOs and NPOs lack.
Is it just funds?
Will having access to unlimited funds solve their problems?
The answer is a big NO!
The organisations lack in their strategies to take real actions in their projects. There is lack of frameworks and hence efficieny.
I wanted to solve this.
I had the idea of setting up an organisation while I while returing from Bangalore to Delhi flight back in Dec 2019.
Hence, The Nation Building came into being.
We based ourselves on UN SDGs with an aim to give all stakeholders of society a platform to contribute to cause they relate with the most.
I was super excited about setting up a new team.
A team that took real actions and made real impact.
A team to live by the name- The Nation Building
Almost 3 years down the journey, I learnt some valuable leadership lessons-
- Leading Starts With Following
You might hold any prominent position like founder, chief- doesn’t mean your job is to keep leading.
You can learn super valueable lessons even from the youngest members. - Respecting All Opinions
In a team, even if you know the best solution for a situation, it is important to listen closely to all ideas on the table.
Let the team discuss and arrive at the best solution after that. - Timely Appreciation
It means a lot to poeple that their efforts are appreciated.
Not prioritising it can lead to people losing interest and focus in their deliverables.
Delayed appreciation is equivalent to no appreciation. - Always Have A Contingency Plan-
Leaders need to have a Plan B for the Plan B.
Some might think you are a pessimist but it is about being a realist.
Think on all possible iterations so you are not taken by surprise.
I go by this mantra- Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. - The Game Of Words And No Words
With experience you will realise that while sometimes it might be wise to use well processed words to bring all together, the other times it can be your silence.
Identify the traits of team members and adjust.
Deliver words when others can’t find a path, deliver silence when you want them to find their own.
Conclusion-
Many times you end up handing people’s concerns for free and still be critisezed.
That when it feels like chewing glass!
I learnt that leadership roles can be a bit lonely at times as well but at the end of it you learn to lead and respect what you started.
Let’s connect and share more stories.
Twitter — https://twitter.com/mandylakra
LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandeep-lakra-119b42103/
Instagram — mandylakra
