Executive Director Worst Practices: Warning Signs to Watch For

There are plenty of lists of executive director best practices out there. But what if you’re struggling in your role and those “best practices” seem impossible to reach? Or what if you are a board member or staff leader worried about your executive director? What are the warning signs of a bad executive director — or at least one who needs an urgent intervention?

In my experience as a five-time executive director — and after coaching dozens more nonprofit executives — I’ve learned to spot the signs when a leader is setting themselves up for failure.

And let me say upfront that these worst practices are NOT the signs of imposter syndrome. In my coaching work, I’ve seen just how rampant imposter syndrome can be. It can hit you at any stage of your career, whether it’s your first executive director role or your fifth. And it can undermine your confidence and make you FEEL like a bad executive director.

Instead, these worst practices are the actions executive directors may take, often unconsciously, that can lead to harm for their organization and their own career. If you spot these behaviors in yourself, don’t panic. You can take a step back, recalibrate, and take a more positive direction. Leadership coaching is a great tool for this.

Signs of a Bad Executive Director

In most cases, the signs of a bad executive director are about things a leader is NOT doing. It’s about neglecting core areas of responsibility or creating unnecessary conflict.

Leadership Worst Practices that Create Board Conflict

• Seeing your board members in an adversarial way instead of as partners. The best-run organizations treat the executive director and the board roles as partners.

• Failing to invest the necessary time in building trust and rapport with your board chair and your full board of directors (hint…do more of it). As an executive director it is tempting to focus on fundraising, programs, and impact. Don’t forget to focus on board relationships!

• Neglecting to develop your board and staff – constantly. The “feeding and caring” of the humans in your organization requires your attention.

• Concealing financial problems from the board. Don’t be a martyr. Be transparent.

Signs an Executive Director Is Leaving the Organization Vulnerable

• Neglecting your fundraising responsibilities. Many executive directors do not enjoy fundraising, so they put it off. Don’t do that. Finding the resources to fund your work is a huge part of your role. Just do it. 

• Neglecting your financial oversight responsibilities. Again, it’s tempting to focus on other things, but many organizations have had to close because of poor financial controls or oversight. It’s your job! 

• Neglecting your human resources responsibilities. Don’t forget to ensure all staff are onboarded properly, have job descriptions, and are given proper delegation, professional development and evaluation, etc. It’s time-consuming, but it’s the job. 

• Failing to develop the necessary infrastructure of your nonprofit (training, technology, etc.). Set up the organization for the future. Grow your technology, lists, and knowledge.

• Not investing the time to craft a powerful case for support.

• Neglecting to plan long-term for the health of the organization. Think way beyond your fiscal year. Think about your legacy.

• Not caring what happens to the organization after you leave. The sign of a good leader is making sure that the things they build last.

• Failing to stay in full compliance with state and federal regulations.

Leadership Worst Practices that Drive Staff Dysfunction

• Demonstrating dysfunctional (emotional or personal) conflict in the workplace. Emotions aren’t bad. But emotional conflict is usually unproductive.

• Allowing nepotism, favoritism, or biases to influence how you treat employees.

• Seeing your predecessor or your successor in a competitive light.

• Getting sucked into a scarcity mindset. Instead, see abundance.

• Failing to make sure your organization follows its own policies and bylaws.

Bad Executive Director or Leader in Need of Support?

Yes, not every executive director is perfect. But that doesn’t mean many can’t become great leaders.

If you see these worst practices in your own behaviors then it’s time for a reset. Familiarize yourself with everything that goes into a successful executive director role. Invest in tools and training to repair board relationships or strengthen internal operations. Explore coaching programs for executive directors that can help you troubleshoot and rebuild your leadership.