Local-living leaders hold significant value
I’ve done both. The difference is vast.
I used to bristle when told I needed to live in the community where I was appointed to lead. I no longer bristle. I get it—finally.
Living where we lead is a basic Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) principle and practice of John McKnight that is often overlooked by those aspiring to lead in community service, community development, faith communities, and public service.
It is also too frequently discounted in recruiting and maintaining nonprofit Boards of Directors made up of non-resident members—who then hire and bless non-resident leaders.
Too many professional leaders have too little connection to organic community life. A lot of grass roots value and perspective can be overlooked or devalued and subtle noblesse oblige often creeps into routine decision-making.
Living distantly as professional leaders, we are not only hamstrung in our perspectives and decision making, we often cannot even recognize the power of what we don’t know—to everyone’s detriment.
Local living matters—incredibly.
I will write more about this later, but this is an opening salvo, challenge, and invitation from a 37-year nonprofit executive director of four major local nonprofits.
If you want to lead with organic legitimacy, then live where you lead. It’s just that basic. It’s just that important.
