Reflections on Generosity for Capital Campaigns
Kick off your week with a 5-minute reflection on generosity to ground yourself in the right mindset for capital campaigns. Each reflection includes a question to ponder throughout the week to aid your work.
Reflections on Generosity for Capital Campaigns
155: Leading with Integrity - Inviting Scrutiny
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
"...that which is a hindrance is made a furtherance to an act; and that which is an obstacle on the road helps us on this road..."
This week, I am reading a quote from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, written around 171 AD.
Reflection question:
- As we are facing scrutiny, is our posture one of defensiveness or invitation and curiosity?
Reflection on quote:
When we are at the beginning of a capital campaign, it is like standing at the base of a mountain where the trail is obscured from view by the undergrowth of the forest. It is a step of faith to stride ahead from the trailhead, but that is just the first step for a journey in building trust that is both exhilarating and challenging as we make our way to the mountain top. Similarly, in capital campaigns, as leaders, our role is to lead both our organization and the community along the trail that begins obscured. This journey requires honesty, clarity, openness, and curiosity in our leadership. So, this month, we are starting a series on leading with integrity. The first principle is to be curious when faced with scrutiny.
When the trail is obscured from view, it is a natural human reaction to wonder if we are going the right way. In the same way, those within our organization, our current donors, and the community will all wonder if the capital campaign is the right path for the organization. Our vision for the project, the work to accomplish the vision, and the project itself will be scrutinized. We can either become defensive and see the scrutiny as hindrance and obstacle. Or, we can lead with curiosity and invite the scrutiny to help us be successful in the capital campaign. We can be curious to use the scrutiny to improve our planning. And, we can be curious to understand the motivations behind the scrutiny. Often, those who are scrutinizing the project when invited with curiosity to share their concerns and ask their questions will become the greatest advocates and allies to the capital campaign in our small towns.
This work has entered the public domain.
What do you think? Send me a text.
To explore small town capital campaign coaching deeper and to schedule an free explore coaching call, visit ServingNonprofits.com.
Music credit: Woeisuhmebop
Welcome back. Every week we pause to reflect because capital campaigns, especially in small towns, aren't just about buildings and budgets. They're about people choosing to be generous. This podcast explores the beautiful space where generosity occurs through ancient and modern writings from all cultures and religions seeking deeper wisdom for capital campaign work in small towns. Whether you're just starting out or deep in the middle of a campaign, these five minute reflections will ground you, encourage you, and remind you why this work matters. When we are at the beginning of a capital campaign, it is like standing at the base of a mountain where the trail is obscured from view by the undergrowth of the forest. It is a step of faith to stride ahead from the trailhead, but that is just the first step for a journey in building trust that is both exhilarating and challenging as we make our way to the mountaintop. Similarly, in capital campaigns, as leaders, our role is to lead both our organization and the community along the trail that begins obscured. This journey requires honesty, clarity, openness, and curiosity in our leadership. So this month, we are starting a series on leading with integrity. The first principle is to be curious when faced with scrutiny. This week, I'm reading a quote from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, written around 171 AD. Quote, "In one respect, man is the nearest thing to me, so far as I can do good to people and endure them. But so far as some people make themselves obstacles to my proper acts, man becomes to me one of the things which are indifferent, no less than the sun or the wind or a wild beast. Now it is true that these may impede my action, but they are no impediments to my affects and disposition, which have the power of acting conditionally and changing. For the mind converts and changes every hindrance to its activity into an aid, and so that which is a hindrance is made a furtherance to every act, and that which is an obstacle on the road helps us on this road. Unquote When the trail is obscured from view, it is a natural human reaction to wonder if we are going the right way. In the same way, those within our organization, our current donors, and the community will all wonder if the capital campaign is the right path for the organization. Our vision for the project, the work to accomplish the vision, and the project itself will be scrutinized. We can either become defensive and see the scrutiny as a hindrance or obstacle, or we can lead with curiosity and invite the scrutiny to help us be successful in the capital campaign. We can be curious to use the scrutiny to improve our planning, and we can be curious to understand the motivations behind the scrutiny. Often, those who are scrutinizing the project, when invited with curiosity to share their concerns and ask their questions, will become the greatest advocates and allies to the capital campaign in our small towns. Let's reflect on one question this week. As we are facing scrutiny, is our posture one of defensiveness or invitation and curiosity? Share this podcast if you enjoy these five minute reflections and subscribe to receive these reflections released every week. To explore small town capital campaign coaching deeper, visit serving nonprofits.com. See you next week.
