The No. 1 Characteristic Every Nonprofit Leader Needs

People often say to me, “I really want to start a nonprofit, but I don’t know where to begin.” My first thought is if you have to wonder, then nonprofit work or social entrepreneurship may not be for you.

Starting a nonprofit is akin to jumping into a rabbit hole. It is full of complexities and unknowns. In addition, as a nonprofit leader, beyond having a great idea, you need an entrepreneurial mindset, a strategic development plan, financial backing and the ability to figure things out.

Most importantly, you must also possess this one characteristic in order to succeed. Dr. Martin Luther King, Barak Obama, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey and Mark Zuckerberg all have it—the spirit of servant leadership.