Leading a nonprofit is both an honor and a burden. Nonprofit leaders are blessed with the ability to make real positive change in their communities, but to do that, they must bear the burden of juggling multiple responsibilities while resisting the pull of compassion fatigue and burnout.

If you are currently in a nonprofit leadership role or hoping to attain one, these five key traits should be on your radar. If you have them, nurture them. And if you don’t have them yet, work to develop them, because these traits can be the difference between thriving and surviving in a leadership role.

Empathy

Empathy is perhaps the most important quality a nonprofit leader can possess. This is because a nonprofit and all it accomplishes is built on empathy, from serving a community that is struggling to persuading donors to “give from the heart,” empathy is at the center of it all.

Effective Communication

The cornerstone of getting things done in any organization is effective communication. Nonprofit leaders who are able to competently communicate with stakeholders, staff, volunteers, donors and the public are more likely to meet their goals. From earning grants to raising funds from private donors to finding and addressing the needs of the communities you serve, effective communication paves the way to great results.

Strong Boundaries

Any driven professional can tell you that strong boundaries between work and home are necessary to prevent burnout. Passionate nonprofit leaders who are driven by the desire to help others often find themselves working all hours of the day and night because their drive to “do good” is so powerful. That’s a noble characteristic, but it can lead to burnout.

Resistance To Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue happens when people become emotionally overburdened by the suffering of others. Symptoms of compassion fatigue include depression, fatigue, decreased productivity and feeling on edge. As a nonprofit leader, it’s easy to develop compassion fatigue because your days are full of discussing, addressing and thinking about the pain and suffering of others. Left unchecked, it can destroy your motivation and productivity.

Resourcefulness

If you want to be successful in any endeavor, resourcefulness is required. Nonprofit leaders who want to maximize their organizations’ impact in the world often use every resource available to help them meet their goals. That can include community partners, personal relationships, other nonprofits, social media, donors, supporters, local businesses, volunteers and more.

Read the full article about nonprofit leaders by Christopher Dipnarine at Forbes.