The Mindset Matters

At the end of October, our friend and colleague Melinda Wiggins was honored for her twenty-five years of service and leadership with Student Action with Farmworkers. It was my pleasure and privilege to say a few words during the festivities about Melinda as an exemplary executive director.

I talked about three points that set Melinda apart from other executive directors, and they are important lessons for any leaders:

While Melinda is passionate about and dedicated to SAF, this consuming social change work is not her sole passion. She is equally disciplined about her avocations of pottery and aerial dancing. She teaches both as a way of ensuring she makes time and shows up for them. Melinda is not one-dimensional, and she relies on the skills and habits of these other pursuits in her SAF work.

Melinda does not hesitate to ask for help. Third Space Studio has done multiple consulting projects with SAF over the years, some very focused and some more expansive. But when I think about Melinda’s ability to ask for help, it’s our lunches and coffees that come to mind. Melinda typically has a provocative question on her mind, and she seeks my perspective and guidance. Melinda is well-known for these coffee dates. She has also created a support group for other executive directors so there is a place where all can ask for help.

Melinda takes risks and experiments. SAF’s work on fundraising experiments was showcased by fundraising guru Kim Klein in a national study on the ways that social change organizations are achieving breakthrough results in individual giving (Fundraising Brightspots is an excellent resource on effective fundraising practices of all kinds). My favorite experiment was the time she and the staff reorganized themselves, shifting job titles and responsibilities. Folks wanted a change, and everyone was willing to mix it up and test something new.

As I reflect on these three aspects of Melinda’s leadership, I notice an important overarching theme: Melinda approaches her work with sense of abundance. There is ample time for many interests. Asking for help does not convey deficiency. There are multiple ways to tackle a goal or task. She is open rather than closed. She believes in the possibilities and knows that there will be enough resources, time, energy, and ideas.

As we enter into the season of gratitude and gifts, I hope that all of us can hold this belief. If we are willing to loosen our desperate cling on our existing power and resources, we will have what we need. I wish you could have all seen the joy on the faces of the dozens in the room as we danced in celebration of Melinda, of SAF, and of the farmworkers whose lives are better because of SAF.

May you find that same abundant joy in the last months of 2019.