From technological advances to new organizational development trends to global crises and racial reckonings, managers and leaders have a lot to contend with. This how-to guide will cover the essential elements of effective management—management that is equitable, sustainable, and results-driven.

This book will help busy managers and leaders bridge the gap between intentions and impact by providing concrete and actionable advice, tools, and resources. From delegation to goal-setting to building a strong team culture, this book gets at the art and science of management in a nonprofit and educational equity context.

Most management and leadership books, such as Good to Great (Jim Collins), The Making of a Manager (Julie Zhuo), The Culture Code (Daniel Coyle), Multipliers (Liz Wiseman & Greg McKeown) and Leaders Eat Last (Simon Sinek) are geared towards managers in the for-profit sector. Most nonprofit management books are focused on leadership and organizational development more broadly, often targeting executive directors and CEOs.

This book is for everybody working towards social change, regardless of their tenure or role. Whether the reader is a new or seasoned manager, an executive director or CEO, or an organizer managing volunteers, they will gain valuable insights and actionable advice from this book.

Jakada Imani is the CEO of The Management Center, a nonprofit capacity-building organization based in Washington, DC. He is a coach and trainer with more than 30 years’ experience working in racial, social, and economic justice movements.

Monna Wong is the Chief Content Officer at The Management Center. She is a facilitator, organizer, and writer who has led teams in Ohio, Maryland, Maine, and California to build power for LGBTQ and Asian Pacific Islander communities.

Bex Ahuja is the Managing Director at Rockwood Leadership Institute. Bex is a seasoned campaign strategist, organizer, trainer, and senior leader with 18 years experience working at the intersection of movement-building, leadership development, and racial and gender justice.

Foreword vii

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction 1

Chapter 1: the Fundamentals of Effective Management 7

Chapter 2: Building Relationships 23

Chapter 3: Delegating Effectively 45

Chapter 4: Defining Roles and Goals 67

Chapter 5: Making Decisions and Prioritizing 91

Chapter 6: Hiring and Building Your Team 107

Chapter 7: Giving Feedback and Evaluating Performance 135

Chapter 8: Investing in People 161

Chapter 9: Addressing Performance Problems 173

Chapter 10: Managing Up and Sideways 197

Chapter 11: Building a Healthy Culture 207

Chapter 12: Conclusion 225

About the Authors 229

Index 231