What Has – and Hasn’t – Changed Since March 2020?

The COVID-19 pandemic caused an abrupt shock to companies and organizations around the world, necessitating swift adjustments to ways of conducting business that would allow operations to continue – while keeping both employees and clients safe. We recently took time to reflect on how the pandemic changed executive recruitment for nonprofit organizations and how we can help clients navigate that change.

The most obvious impact the pandemic had on the way we work with clients was the increased use of technology to communicate and conduct interviews. For many of us, this was a big change. At Kittleman, we pride ourselves on our highly personalized, hands-on approach to working with our clients, so conducting meetings in an almost exclusively virtual setting took some getting used to. But it also taught us some valuable lessons.

Before a board can even begin the process of searching for a new CEO, it’s important to have consensus from every member about organizational goals and objectives and how the future of the organization will be shaped by a new leader.

“This is an important but sometimes challenging step in the process that we typically prefer to conduct in person,” explains Cory King, President and CEO. “So as a result, we spent even more time in the organizational assessment phase of the process, working within a virtual space and adding new strategies to help ensure a solid foundation for the search.”

One strategy includes surveying the larger staff to create a better picture of what’s happening within the organization. We adjusted to meeting virtually, setting ground rules for meetings just as we would for in person, ensuring everyone involved in the search was as focused and engaged as they would be under normal circumstances.

One strategy includes surveying the larger staff to create a better picture of what’s happening within the organization. We adjusted to meeting virtually, setting ground rules for meetings just as we would for in person, ensuring everyone involved in the search was as focused and engaged as they would be under normal circumstances.

Raylene Decatur, Principal and Managing Director of our western U.S. office, points out that for prospective candidates who would most likely be working from home, clarity regarding organizational goals and objectives, as well as expectations, is more important than ever.

“Kittleman has always been very involved with the onboarding process to ensure a smooth transition for new leaders,” she says. “Onboarding in a virtual or hybrid work environment requires additional thought and planning, and I think a lot of what we learned from that will be carried forward.”

We were pleasantly surprised that very few of our clients suspended CEO searches. It follows logic that an organization in need of leadership would be even more motivated to have a new CEO in place to help navigate the new challenges the pandemic was presenting. In fact, many of our clients were asking to fast track the process, concerned about time lost during the mandatory closures in spring 2020.

In many cases, the type of candidate our clients are looking for has changed, shaped by the way COVID-19 was forcing them to rethink how nonprofits deliver services.

“Museums, gardens, and community organizations that address homelessness – all of these and more had to get creative in their approach to fulfilling their mission while doing their part to keep employees and clients safe,” explains Kittleman Chairman Rick King. “It can be exciting and perilous all at the same time, and it requires a leader who can demonstrate ingenuity and creativity in problem solving.”

We observed that nonprofits generally did a better job of forming and leveraging partnerships during the pandemic than corporations did, highlighting the importance of a CEO’s proven ability to collaborate across organizations to achieve successful results.

So what do these reflections mean for our clients as we continue to face uncertainty in an ongoing crisis?

The next decade promises to be very difficult for nonprofits in the face of a great deal of change and disruption. The pandemic afforded many currently holding leadership positions the headspace to think about their roles and their own personal goals. We’re seeing many leaders decide to make career changes or retire.

“The average CEO tenure is decreasing for various reasons, but the large number of opportunities that exist is a major factor,” explains Cory. “This leaves many nonprofits – particularly small institutions – vulnerable as they experience loss of continuity.”

With leadership opportunities aplenty in the nonprofit sector, the pool of CEO-ready prospects is getting smaller, making it more important than ever that organizations invest the time and resources into a deliberate search process.

The Kittleman team understands the leadership qualities that are most important in the current climate – innovation, creativity, a proven ability to partner and collaborate across organizations, and the ability to actively listen and incorporate feedback into strategic planning.

While the backdrop for how we partner with our clients has changed, our commitment to helping nonprofits make the right hire through a collaborative process remains constant. For now, we are taking a hybrid approach, continuing to be as hands-on as much as possible, both virtually and in person as conditions allow.

Kittleman & Associates is ready to help your nonprofit fulfill its mission by finding the visionary leader who can impact the lives of those you serve. Contact us to learn more about how we apply the highest professional standards of service in partnering with your governing board and search committee to conduct a successful recruitment process.