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Owain Smolovic Jones
Moderator
Post 1

• 20 October 2016, 4:30 PM • Edited by Matthew Driver on 21 October 2016, 9:15 AM

Week 2, Activity 2 Valued leadership in the voluntary sector

In relation to the voluntary sector, is there a particular kind of leader who seems to be valued over other kinds of leaders? What do they look like and how do they behave? Are these leader characteristics a good thing, a bad thing or somewhere in between (and why)?

After reflecting on the above questions, post your thoughts. It would also be helpful to our community if you responded to the thoughts of at least two of your fellow learners.


Gail Pussard Post 2 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 1 November 2016, 12:48 PM • Edited by the author on 1 November 2016, 12:49 PM
The voluntary sector is quite broad and therefore I do not believe there is a...
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Caleb Rowan Post 6 (summarised) in reply to 2

• 10 November 2016, 11:31 AM
That's interesting because I have seen a good example of leadership where...
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Steven Walker Post 98 (summarised) in reply to 2

• 6 November 2019, 8:31 PM
I would agree that passion for the vision is definitely an important factor....
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Claire Cochrane Post 3 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 9 November 2016, 8:11 PM
I would like to present two 'leaders' that I have worked with; A - Valued for...
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Owain Smolovic Jones Post 4 (summarised) in reply to 3

• 10 November 2016, 11:03 AM
Wow Claire, you're streaming ahead. I recognise your A&B, for sure. I'm...
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Claire Cochrane Post 9 (summarised) in reply to 4

• 16 November 2016, 8:44 PM
It was an unintentional to present a masculine persona but obviously 'big...
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Andrew Bullock Post 8 (summarised) in reply to 3

• 11 November 2016, 10:08 AM
Your leader A is nearer the leader that I would prefer to work with. Often...
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Hayley Bennett Post 33 (summarised) in reply to 8

• 30 March 2017, 4:59 PM
I echo your thoughts, Andrew. I think the point that Christine Pearce made...
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Clare Reeve Post 82 (summarised) in reply to 33

• 22 September 2019, 6:44 PM
I agree that some leaders who are can see the need for change and driven to...
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Emma Corcoran Post 55 (summarised) in reply to 8

• 26 October 2017, 3:46 PM
I agree. I also think that a lot of people in the voluntary sector consider...
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Kate Martin Post 12 (summarised) in reply to 3

• 20 November 2016, 10:34 AM
Hi Claire - I love this! Really resonates with my experience of some of the...
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Nadeem Akhtar Post 24 (summarised) in reply to 3

• 12 February 2017, 3:57 PM
I think Group B always prevails and appreciated. But in this case the leader...
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Marta Bruschi Post 28 (summarised) in reply to 3

• 25 March 2017, 11:48 AM
I had a similar experience regarding the leaders I worked with and I agree...
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Alison Moody Post 41 (summarised) in reply to 28

• 6 April 2017, 4:39 PM

Leaders

 I agree leaders need a good mix of traits. Also be self-aware enough...
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Marilyn David Post 93 (summarised) in reply to 41

• 5 October 2019, 11:10 PM
Alison, I agree with your comment. Processes need to be followed and slow...
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Hayley Bennett Post 34 (summarised) in reply to 3

• 30 March 2017, 5:01 PM
Claire - thank you so much for sharing this. One thing that I have noticed is...
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Kate Honeyford Post 43 (summarised) in reply to 3

• 3 May 2017, 1:39 PM

louder leaders

 I agree with your comments to a certain extent - but I do...
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Clare Reeve Post 83 (summarised) in reply to 43

• 22 September 2019, 6:50 PM
I completely agree with Kate's comment about different leadership styles for...
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Nia Crouch Post 47 (summarised) in reply to 3

• 26 May 2017, 3:08 PM
I think these two examples are a useful way of trying to draw out...
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Kate Honeyford Post 50 (summarised) in reply to 3

• 9 June 2017, 1:30 PM
I agree Clare, I think that people can't really decide what they want from...
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Jessica Meale Post 63 (summarised) in reply to 3

• 13 April 2018, 9:50 AM • Edited by the author on 13 April 2018, 9:51 AM
I completely agree with you Claire. In my experience, I have worked with both...
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Greg Stenson Post 68 (summarised) in reply to 3

• 17 September 2018, 2:45 PM
Totally agree with this Claire!
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Sandy Campbell Post 104 (summarised) in reply to 3

• 20 January 2020, 12:42 AM
I find the descriptions of both leaders interesting and do believe that there...
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Caleb Rowan Post 5 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 10 November 2016, 11:29 AM
I would say we value leaders who take an active interest in the work and...
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Alison Moody Post 42 (summarised) in reply to 5

• 6 April 2017, 4:41 PM
Agree that these are positive traits. Being able to let go and enable others...
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Emma Corcoran Post 56 (summarised) in reply to 5

• 26 October 2017, 4:19 PM
I think this is a good point. It's a very difficult balance to get, but when...
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Julie Cooper Post 88 (summarised) in reply to 5

• 29 September 2019, 6:54 PM
I agree with Caleb, leaders who empower their teams not only give them the...
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Fidele Mutwarasibo Post 89 (summarised) in reply to 88

• 1 October 2019, 11:41 AM
Accountability, shared leadership and empowering others within our...
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Steven Walker Post 99 (summarised) in reply to 5

• 6 November 2019, 8:34 PM
Yes I think you are definitely right on this point. This kind of leader needs...
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Andrew Bullock Post 7 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 11 November 2016, 9:56 AM
I believe we value leaders that who we know have a passion for the...
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Owain Smolovic Jones Post 14 (summarised) in reply to 7

• 23 November 2016, 8:09 AM
Can that kind of a confident charismatic direction come from a group, from...
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Ruth Leonard Post 17 (summarised) in reply to 14

• 30 December 2016, 4:27 PM
I think there can be a direction from a group beneath and this group will...
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Sally Reith Post 21 (summarised) in reply to 17

• 3 February 2017, 2:56 PM
I think the point about team work is really interesting and relevant. It's...
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Kate Honeyford Post 44 (summarised) in reply to 14

• 3 May 2017, 1:44 PM
If leaders listen and are not afraid of challenge - a culture change has come...
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Clare Reeve Post 84 (summarised) in reply to 14

• 22 September 2019, 6:53 PM
Definitely - from within as well as from the top. Many great ideas and...
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Genevieve Rudd Post 10 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 18 November 2016, 1:58 PM
I think the point in the reading about Camila Batmanghelidjh living modestly...
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Carol Jacklin-Jarvis Post 13 (summarised) in reply to 10

• 21 November 2016, 3:51 PM
Hi Genevieve Really interested to read your comment on the interview with...
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Sally Reith Post 22 (summarised) in reply to 13

• 3 February 2017, 3:05 PM
I agree with your question Carol but am not sure there's an obvious answer. I...
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Nadeem Akhtar Post 23 (summarised) in reply to 22

• 12 February 2017, 3:52 PM
I peronally observe that in most cases 'person' always plays vital role and...
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Marta Bruschi Post 30 (summarised) in reply to 23

• 25 March 2017, 11:57 AM
The role of the board is not prevailing on decisions but to advise the...
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Carol Jacklin-Jarvis Post 31 (summarised) in reply to 30

• 27 March 2017, 10:26 AM
Hi Maria Your comment suggests that negotiating the staff/trustee boundary is...
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Marta Bruschi Post 32 (summarised) in reply to 31

• 30 March 2017, 2:30 PM
It is a very complex issue if it comes about the role of the trustees/ board....
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Hayley Bennett Post 35 (summarised) in reply to 32

• 30 March 2017, 5:03 PM
I wonder - do you think that there is an assumption that trustees also need...
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Carol Jacklin-Jarvis Post 36 (summarised) in reply to 35

• 31 March 2017, 5:51 PM
Ah that's a very interesting question. Does anyone have any thoughts? I'm...
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Clare Reeve Post 85 (summarised) in reply to 36

• 22 September 2019, 6:58 PM
I don't believe trustees need an extreme sense of vocation, but certainly...
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Kirsty Conger Post 40 (summarised) in reply to 35

• 3 April 2017, 12:01 PM
This is a really interesting point to consider. My original assumption was to...
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Kate Honeyford Post 45 (summarised) in reply to 31

• 3 May 2017, 1:52 PM
Trustees, specially the chair, have to work across a range of leadership...
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Rhiannon Hardiman Post 72 (summarised) in reply to 45

• 23 April 2019, 11:25 AM
I have found that it's important to have a diverse range of trustees that can...
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Darren Smith Post 61 (summarised) in reply to 10

• 18 January 2018, 11:30 AM
Hi Genevieve- I just wanted to add a point about the Christine Pearce...
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Kate Martin Post 11 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 20 November 2016, 10:31 AM • Edited by the author on 20 November 2016, 10:38 AM
I think that valued leaders are those who assess what is required for the job...
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Nick Kavanagh Post 19 (summarised) in reply to 11

• 20 January 2017, 3:11 PM
I agree with this, also the leader needs to be in touch with those around her...
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Carol Jacklin-Jarvis Post 20 (summarised) in reply to 19

• 26 January 2017, 9:00 AM
Hi Nick This raises an interesting point about how we value a shared approach...
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Marta Bruschi Post 29 (summarised) in reply to 19

• 25 March 2017, 11:52 AM
I totally agree with this. Being effective is very important, but having led...
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Lorraine Slee Post 26 (summarised) in reply to 11

• 18 March 2017, 3:00 PM • Edited by the author on 18 March 2017, 3:11 PM
I agree with you Kate. i don't think there is something fundamentally...
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Carol Jacklin-Jarvis Post 27 (summarised) in reply to 26

• 20 March 2017, 8:50 AM
Hi Lorraine Do you have any further thoughts on what those distinctions...
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Kirsty Conger Post 39 (summarised) in reply to 11

• 3 April 2017, 11:50 AM
This is really interesting. Does the voluntary sector then struggle to...
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Patricia Cowdrey Post 53 (summarised) in reply to 11

• 29 August 2017, 1:24 PM
I definitely agree Kate. As organisations need to evolve in an ever changing...
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Stacey Pottinger Post 15 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 15 December 2016, 2:29 PM
The words and thoughts that come to mind from my personal experience of...
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Carol Jacklin-Jarvis Post 16 (summarised) in reply to 15

• 22 December 2016, 3:49 PM
Hi Stacey That's an interesting comment on the differences between traits...
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Ruth Leonard Post 18 (summarised) in reply to 16

• 30 December 2016, 4:32 PM
it does seem as if there is more and more emphasis on leaders in every sector...
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Lorraine Slee Post 25 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 5 March 2017, 2:34 PM
Skills in inspiring or at least persuading others to co-operate, support,...
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Kirsty Conger Post 37 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 3 April 2017, 10:48 AM
I think strong willed individuals with strong beliefs and a focus/passion to...
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Carol Jacklin-Jarvis Post 38 (summarised) in reply to 37

• 3 April 2017, 11:34 AM
Hi Kirsty Interesting insight - that the characteristics that may seem...
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Nia Crouch Post 48 (summarised) in reply to 37

• 26 May 2017, 3:11 PM
Interestingly a lot of these words I would use to describe someone I think of...
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Kate Honeyford Post 46 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 3 May 2017, 4:15 PM

'traditional' leadership traits

 I am a feminist and I probably was one from...
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Nia Crouch Post 49 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 26 May 2017, 3:18 PM
I think that the crux of a good leaders is someone who can get others to...
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Kate Honeyford Post 51 (summarised) in reply to 49

• 9 June 2017, 1:32 PM
definitely agree with that Nia, no good trying to be something you are not....
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Vicky Shepherd Post 52 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 24 August 2017, 3:02 PM
My experience of some leaders in the voluntary sector is that they behaved in...
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James Keyworth Post 54 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 19 October 2017, 9:39 PM
I tend to subscribe to the viewpoint that there is no 'one-size-fits-all'...
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Emma Corcoran Post 57 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 26 October 2017, 4:35 PM
For me, I think I would be receptive to a leader in the voluntary sector that...
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Anthony Colson Post 59 (summarised) in reply to 57

• 15 January 2018, 8:13 PM
Hi Emma I understand the basis for your point and it's a classic management...
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Anthony Colson Post 58 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 15 January 2018, 8:03 PM
I found this aspect quite challenging to think of in-terms of a stand-out...
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Madeleine Musgrove Post 71 (summarised) in reply to 58

• 13 October 2018, 9:16 AM
I agree that the leaders with these traits are not necessarily those who are...
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Darren Smith Post 60 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 17 January 2018, 8:51 PM
Valued Leadership in the Voluntary Sector I have been considering some traits...
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Victoria Richardson Post 62 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 23 February 2018, 2:15 PM
I found this interesting to answer in the light of the current Oxfam/Save the...
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Jill Anderson Post 101 (summarised) in reply to 62

• 15 December 2019, 9:45 AM
I so agree, that media skills are important. I am writing this a couple of...
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Jessica Meale Post 64 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 13 April 2018, 9:56 AM • Edited by the author on 13 April 2018, 10:04 AM
I can clearly recognise the leaders and managers in my organisation....
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Madeleine Musgrove Post 70 (summarised) in reply to 64

• 13 October 2018, 9:13 AM
I agree Jessica I also struggle to hold back when I'm really passionate about...
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Maishara Kayemba Post 65 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 25 April 2018, 6:10 AM

My new leader

 Iam new to the voluntary sector leadership and must say this...
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Fidele Mutwarasibo Post 66 (summarised) in reply to 65

• 8 May 2018, 4:43 PM
Thanks for engagement on the Durum Maishara.Like your emphasis on succession...
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Sarah Pettifor Post 67 (summarised) in reply to 65

• 18 June 2018, 10:48 AM
I am from a similar position where being in the voluntary sector is quite new...
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Marilyn David Post 92 (summarised) in reply to 67

• 5 October 2019, 11:08 PM
I agree that the traits of the leader set the tone of the organisation,...
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Jill Anderson Post 102 (summarised) in reply to 92

• 15 December 2019, 9:53 AM
Both your postings - Sarah and Marilyn - resonated with me. I am wondering...
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Carol Jacklin-Jarvis Post 103 (summarised) in reply to 102

• 6 January 2020, 8:02 AM
Hi Jill You make two great points here. First, that use of language can lead...
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Madeleine Musgrove Post 69 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 13 October 2018, 9:09 AM
There are a number of traits I've noticed are valued in the voluntary sector...
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Rhiannon Hardiman Post 73 (summarised) in reply to 69

• 23 April 2019, 11:58 AM
I agree with many of the traits already discussed in this forum and won't...
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Jacqueline McNee Post 74 (summarised) in reply to 73

• 14 May 2019, 3:46 PM
I think that is a really valid poit you have raised there Rhiannon and I...
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Jeremy Gee Post 75 (summarised) in reply to 74

• 2 June 2019, 1:02 PM
Agree here Jacq - often our reluctance to take risks holds us back. I think...
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Carol Jacklin-Jarvis Post 76 (summarised) in reply to 75

• 3 June 2019, 1:31 PM
Hi Jeremy This is really interesting. It also poses the question as to how...
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Nicola Brooks Post 77 (summarised) in reply to 76

• 9 July 2019, 4:43 PM
I can see both sides to this - passion can drive leaders to take risks in the...
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Hayley O'Gara Post 78 (summarised) in reply to 75

• 17 July 2019, 2:20 PM
Isn't passion an emotion and there for unreliable? Most risk taking within an...
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Megan Parnell-Murphy Post 95 (summarised) in reply to 78

• 8 October 2019, 6:37 AM
I agree leaders should be careful with how their passion is driving their...
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Fidele Mutwarasibo Post 97 (summarised) in reply to 95

• 8 October 2019, 12:40 PM
Agree on the importance of realism and keeping an eye on our passion as...
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Rose Thompson Post 79 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 19 August 2019, 6:09 PM
From my perspective working in the mental health part of the voluntary sector...
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Carol Jacklin-Jarvis Post 80 (summarised) in reply to 79

• 20 August 2019, 10:25 AM
Hi Rose, I'm interested in your comment that there may be a gap in how people...
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Clare Reeve Post 81 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 22 September 2019, 6:32 PM
Voluntary sector leaders often have a absolute connection with the charity...
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Fidele Mutwarasibo Post 86 (summarised) in reply to 81

• 22 September 2019, 8:47 PM
Clare, your comments reminded me the discussions I had with my colleagues in...
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Megan Parnell-Murphy Post 96 (summarised) in reply to 81

• 8 October 2019, 6:43 AM
I agree with your comments Clare and think that leaders like this need to be...
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Julie Cooper Post 87 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 29 September 2019, 6:32 PM
I don’t believe there is a particular kind of leader for the voluntary...
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Fidele Mutwarasibo Post 90 (summarised) in reply to 87

• 1 October 2019, 11:43 AM
Concur with your analysis of good leadership Julie.
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Marilyn David Post 91 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 5 October 2019, 11:00 PM
In my experience, there are leaders who are charismatic in nature and have a...
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Megan Parnell-Murphy Post 94 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 8 October 2019, 6:31 AM
I think that there is not one set list of characteristics to define a leader...
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Jill Anderson Post 100 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 15 December 2019, 9:34 AM
It's hard to generalise about the kinds of leaders who are valued, as there...
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Sandy Campbell Post 106 (summarised) in reply to 100

• 20 January 2020, 12:57 AM
I like the idea of the type of qualities you present here on a leadership in...
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Sandy Campbell Post 105 (summarised) in reply to 1

• 20 January 2020, 12:50 AM
I have seen leaders picked because of their experience and popularity to the...
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