Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
By Melanie Lockwood Herman
If you’re a fan of crime dramas, you’re well aware that recovering fingerprints—the impressions left by the friction ridges (raised portion of the epidermis) of a human finger—is often an important part of a crime scene investigation. And when the identity associated with the fingerprints is revealed, it doesn’t always match the initial suspect nabbed by law enforcement. According to the Wikipedia page on the topic, “Human fingerprints are detailed, nearly unique, difficult to alter, and durable over the life of an individual, making them suitable as long-term markers of human identity.”
Leaving one’s ‘fingerprints’ on an organization, versus a crime scene, is generally less sinister! The expression is used to describe the lasting impression and contributions of an employee or volunteer. For nonprofit leaders working in operations, such as finance, HR, risk management, and facility management, leaving an impression on a nonprofit is like leaving a legacy. Over the years I’ve heard many colleagues talk about their contributions to an organization’s more efficient structure, to the modernization of key policies, or the rollout of consistent training and onboarding. Making a mission mark is something we should strive for and be proud of.
This week I’ve been reading Good Counsel: Meeting the Legal Needs of Nonprofits, by Lesley Rosenthal. I was fortunate to meet Lesley last week during a networking event for General Counsel who serve nonprofit missions. Lesley is the General Counsel of Lincoln Center in New York. In her chapter titled “Taking Charge of the Legal Function,” Lesley writes, ”Sometimes the best compliment a lawyer can get is that she left no visible fingerprints on a great new initiative.” She recounts reading a journalist’s review of Lincoln Center’s redevelopment project, which included the following reference to Lincoln Center’s roof top lawn: “Somehow the lawyers never got at this idea, never sank it with fears of imaginary dangers. It feels fresh and accidental, adolescent and fun.”
Lesley’s reminder that “sometimes the best legal review is invisible” is a timely tip for risk leaders. Author Bruce Kasanoff supplements this sentiment when he writes “…the fact is that you can accomplish much more, if you don’t worry about taking the credit” in his piece “The Incredible Power of Not Taking Credit.”
Knowing when to leave your fingerprints could be called a mark of a great leader–one who practices selfless leadership. Our fingerprints tell the story of our true motivations, whether those drivers are personal glory or altruistic service to the missions and communities we represent.
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” – Shannon L. Alder, author
Melanie Lockwood Herman is Executive Director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. Melanie invites your comments on fingerprints and selfless risk leadership at Melanie@nonprofitrisk.org or 703.777.3504.
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