Learning as we go is often how our sector views leadership development. But what if that wasn't so? What if you could learn core leadership traits that would help you hit it out of the park on a day to day basis and develop a career that you're proud of over the long term? By studying leadership over the past 15 years, I've distilled core leadership skills down to 10 basic personal traits that can be identified, learned, strengthened, and mastered.

1. If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now:
Essential Leadership Traits in
Healthcare Philanthropy
Veronica Carroll, MBA CFRE

2. Agenda
Background
Leadership – Models and Styles
Identifying your leadership style strengths & where
you need to develop
Leadership Traits
Bringing it all together

3. Background
• Leadership - a
preoccupation
• 25+ years in non-profit
sector
• Worked at 8 non-profits –
global, national,
provincial, regional and
community
• 11 transitions into new
roles
• 5 organizational
leadership roles

4. Leadership
Presentations
http://www.slideshare.net/veronicacarroll18/identifyi
ng-and-nurturing-leadership-within-the-organization
http://www.slideshare.net/veronicacarroll18/ahp-
canada-conference-2013
http://www.slideshare.net/veronicacarroll18/presenta
tion-convene
http://www.slideshare.net/veronicacarroll18/the-
coaching-connection-ahp-presentation

5. Good Leadership is
Essential
All the positive benefits of having a good leader
It makes good business sense
Leadership succession – hot topic
Younger leaders interested in new ways to structure work –
shared leadership and participatory structures
Leadership tenure/Leadership burnout
Leadership deficit - baby boom deficit cannot be filled by gen X
The challenge to attract and retain talent
Scarcity of resources

6. Leadership Models
Authentic Leadership
Level 5 Leadership
Fierce Leadership
Coaching in Leadership

7. Authentic Leadership
• “The challenge is to
understand ourselves
well enough to discover
where we can use our
leadership gifts to serve
others.”
• Understand your
personal narrative
• Need to devote yourself
to personal growth
“Like elite athletes, you
must devote yourself to
a lifetime of realizing
your potential”.
* Bill George, Peter Sims, Andrew N. McLean and Diana Mayer

8. Level 5 Leadership
• Based on work around
Good to Great
• A leader in whom
genuine personal
humility blends with
intense professional will
• A Level 5 Leader is a
study in duality:
• Modest and willful
• Shy and fearless
• Ambition not for
themselves but for
the organization
* Jim Collins

9. Fierce Leadership
• “A Fierce Leader commits
to a way of life, not a
business strategy.” Susan
Scott
• Feedback rich, on-going
personal growth, culture
of passionate
engagement, sharing
resources, collaborating,
open, transparent,
respectful culture, shared
values and ethics guide
decisions, and shared
enthusiasm for agility and
original thinking
* Susan Scott

10. Coaching in Leadership
• Mindset – Believing in
Others, Being Curious,
Managing Needs,
Earning Trust and
Showing Respect, and
Staying Connected
• Skills – Listening,
Inquiring, Giving
Feedback, and Sharing
• Framework – Clarify
the focus, Identify the
Goal, Develop
Solutions, and Create
Accountability

11. Top 10 leadership qualities
1. Honesty
2. Confidence
3. Positivity
4. Creativity
5. Humility

12. Top 10 leadership qualities
6. Courageous
7. Visionary
8. Communicator
9. Team player
10. Focused

13. Questions:
Identify one or two demanding experiences from your
past and think about what happened in regards to:
intention
integrity
Trust
Identify a time when you had to engage a group of people
and develop a shared meaning
Identify a time when you had to exercise a clear,
distinctive and compelling voice
Think about a time when you had to exercise your
personal values/principles

14. Identifying your strengths and
your growth edges
The most important skill to develop is self-
awareness
Identify tasks and activities that inspire
you to be your best – when you feel most
invigorated
Identify activities when you feel the most
uncomfortable and the most challenged
personally

15. Conclusion

16. Thank you!
Where you can find me:
veronica.carroll@dhfoundation.ca
CarrollVcarroll – Twitter
Linkedin
Vmcarroll - Instagram

17. Resources
Fierce Conversations, Susan Scott
Fierce Leadership, Susan Scott
Coaching Skills For Nonprofit Managers and Leaders,
Judith Wilson & Michelle Gislason
The Path, Creating Your Mission Statement For Work
and For Life, Laurie Beth Jones
Difficult Conversations, How to Discuss What Matters
Most, Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton & Sheila Heen

18. The Pause Principle, Step Back to Lead Forward, Kevin
Cashman
The Power of Habit, Why We Do What We Do In Life
and Business, Charles Duhigg
Mother’s Pearls, 27 Aha Moments of Realization, Kevin
J. Cottam
You Already Know How To Be Great, A Simple Way to
Remove Interference and Unlock Your Greatest
Potential, Alan Fine with Rebecca R. Merrill
Resources