By Mark Oppenheim
Elections begs the question of how we should rate candidates and cast votes for them. Since we conduct leadership searches for nonprofit CEOs and other c-suite leaders, we have a bird’s-eye view of this. With Election Day right around the corner on November 3rd, we thought to share four candidate selection & voting lessons learned through working with nonprofit boards and CEOs.
Lesson 1: Voters can be intentional about what influences their vote, and demand data that goes beyond the echo-chamber.
Whether we vote to select a politician for elected office or a CEO for a nonprofit, voting is the final step of a candidate analysis and voter influencing operation.
Voters review data in various forms before they make their selection – resume entries, hard data on results delivered by candidates (i.e. metrics they can boast about); soft data on style, personality, values; their communication skills; and knowledge of the field, the candidate’s networks, their track-record forging productive partnerships, their reputation, etc.
Influence also comes in various forms and through various mechanisms – appeals to the head and heart come through friends, social groups, media, religious groups, business associations and other connections. Unfortunately, there can be promulgated half-truths, lies, appeals to fears and so on. Influencing operations don’t always care about the quality of their data or even whether data is true.
So be conscious that we’re being influenced, and make sure that what influences you is under your control. Ensure that the information that affects your judgement is true. Monitor your emotional response. All that glitters isn’t gold, and all that moves you emotionally isn’t good or right. Be intentional about what you allow to sway you.
Lesson 2: Your perspective counts!
Let’s keep this short and sweet: YOU ARE IMPORTANT. This means your participation in the process, your input, your influence, your voice and your vote are all important! In a nonprofit’s search for a CEO, participate if you are on the board, on staff, fund the org, are a partner to it, are serving the same clients or have any interest at all in the services provided. When political elections come, learn about candidates, debate and advocate with others, meet the candidates if possible and VOTE. Your participation benefits everyone! If you don’t participate or if your input is somehow discouraged, then we all are deprived of that input. I live in an unincorporated part of my town and can’t vote in local elections, but do I participate? Absolutely! These decisions affect me so I discuss them with neighbors who are able to vote in town elections by virtue of their residential address. Be assertive, ensure you’re heard and protect the voices of others.
Lesson 3: Learn from others with a different perspective.
I keep hearing about us all being in echo-chambers that reinforce our already held beliefs and identities, with the echo-chambers controlled and manipulated by social media conglomerates, AI bots and bad actors. I’m not saying that any of this is untrue, just that we’re not powerless! We can turn off our media and devices, we can talk with neighbors or strangers or family with different views, and we can learn something new from others with a different perspective than ours! You don’t have to agree to respect and listen and perhaps learn something in the process. We are all so reluctant to mix it up, and we shouldn’t be. Talk with someone whose opinion you don’t know, or who has a different opinion than yours – you might learn something, and so might they!
Lesson 4: Our job doesn’t end with the election.
We are all stewards of civil society, whether as a board member of a nonprofit, a politician or by being a plain and ordinary citizen, so our responsibility doesn’t end with our vote! Pay attention after a candidate is selected. Does the politician or executive fulfill their promises? Are they organized as they go about their work? Do they spend money wisely? Do they listen to constituents and continually improve and expand services? Are they corrupt or honest? When we don’t pay attention, things are certain to happen we don’t like, so stay involved! Verify that claims candidates make when vying for an office are fulfilled after they win it.
ELECTION DAY IS: Tuesday, November 3, 2026! Every vote is important, and your active participation is critical. So…
Advocate! Listen to others! VOTE! Encourage others to VOTE! And hold leaders you select accountable! The country needs you; our civil society needs you!
VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! (or this could be a red, white & blue word art version of VOTE!)
(Here’s more on: how we conduct searches, our active searches, our clients, and our nonprofit constituents.)