NVSQ Blog

moralcompass

Tracey Coule, NVSQ Research-to-Practice Editor

“The real issue is about moral compasses in leadership.” This was the statement made by Sir Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations in the UK, on leadership development in civil society organizations (CSOs) last month. He suggested that many of the biggest challenges that leaders face, now more than ever, are not technical matters but ethical ones and candidly questioned the extent to which leadership development equipped people to make difficult judgment calls on such issues. Etherington, and much recent global media attention, links the increasing demand for moral and ethical judgments to the changing relationship between CSOs and the state. One example is the anticipated rise in state-based regulation, sparking concern in some corners over damage to CSO’s freedom to campaign, advocate and pursue charitable missions more generally. Continue reading “Morals matter: What’s to learn from nonprofit research?”

Tracey Coule, NVSQ Research-to-Practice Editor

On starting my new academic role, around 10 years ago, I recall asking a colleague why we did some particular thing in a certain way. Their response, “oh don’t worry, it’s always been done that way”. Probably well-meaning but not particularly helpful to someone in a new role – especially to someone with an inquisitive nature. “Excitement. Honor. Gratitude. Responsibility.” These were the four words used by the new editors of Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Quarterly (NVSQ) in their first From the Editor’s Desk to describe how their sentiments had evolved since their selection as the next editorial team. I share these sentiments. Continue reading “On being new in uncharted territory…”