The Leadership Quiz Every Nonprofit Woman Leader Needs to Take

Nonprofit Women Leaders: Find Out What's Blocking Your Growth

As a nonprofit leader, I'm betting you know that feeling when you're constantly trying to meet everyone's expectations, prove your worth, or get every detail just right, only to end up exhausted, second-guessing yourself, and wondering why leadership feels so hard?

You're not alone! I've been there too!

Most nonprofit women leaders unknowingly fall into the trap of PLEASING, PERFORMING or PERFECTING at some point in their careers, believing these behaviours will make them more effective.

But instead of helping, they often leave you burned out, overwhelmed, and disconnected from your own values.

The good news? Once you PAUSE and recognize these patterns, you can break free from them and lead more confidently. 
​​

Which Leadership Trap Do You Fall Into? 

When you lead from a place of constantly trying to meet others' expectations, prove yourself, or avoid mistakes, you lose sight of what truly makes you a strong and confident leader, which is leading with strong character. More on that in a moment.

To get out of the trap, you need to engage in self-reflection. You can use The Infinite Leadership Loop to help you.

​PAUSE and PONDER to understand which tendencies you lean toward so you can PIVOT your perspectives, break free from them and PROCEED to lead your PEOPLE with authenticity.

​Here is a quiz to help you do this self-reflection:
​

Which Leadership Trap Is Holding You Back?

A Quiz for Women Leaders in Nonprofits

​Review the questions and answer the following questions honestly.
​

When making decisions, I am most concerned about:

​A) Whether everyone will be happy with my choice 
B) Proving that I can handle it all on my own 
C) Getting every detail right to avoid mistakes 
​

When someone gives me critical feedback, I tend to:

A) Feel guilty and try to make it up to them 
B) Double down on working harder to prove my worth 
C) Ruminate on where I went wrong and how I could have done it perfectly 
​

In a team meeting, I usually:

A) Keep my opinions to myself to avoid conflict
B) Take charge and ensure things go smoothly, even if I'm overwhelmed
C) Hesitate to speak up unless I'm 100% sure I have the right answer 
​

I feel most validated when:

​A) Everyone around me is happy, and I've avoided disappointing them 
B) I'm seen as the one who gets things done and excels under pressure 
C) My work is flawless and free from mistakes 
​

When I delegate tasks, I:

A) Worry that others will be upset with me for asking 
B) Feel uneasy because I believe I should handle it myself 
C) Struggle to let go because I don't trust others to do it the right way 
​

My biggest fear as a leader is:

​A) Letting someone down 
B) Failing or looking incompetent 
C) Making a mistake or not getting it exactly right 
​

When under pressure, my default response is to:

​A) Say yes to everything to avoid conflict 
B) Push myself harder, even if I'm exhausted 
C) Get stuck in overanalyzing and delay making a decision 
​

Your Results: Which Leadership Trap Do You Fall Into?

​How did you do? Tally up whether you respond most often with (A), (B), or (C). 
Here's what your answers say about your tendencies to please, perform or perfect.
​

Mostly A's: Pleasing

​You tend to prioritize the needs and expectations of others over your own needs and desires. You want to be liked and accepted, even if it means sacrificing your own values or boundaries.
​

Mostly B's: Performing

​As overachievers with high expectations, you feel a constant need to prove yourself and put on a facade of competence and capability even when feeling overwhelmed or uncertain. You put immense pressure on yourself to prove your competence, often overworking to maintain an image of capability. 
​

Mostly C's: Perfecting

In your relentless pursuit of flawlessness, you believe every task, every project, and every decision must be perfect. This can lead to analysis paralysis, procrastination, and a fear of taking risks or making mistakes.
​

Your results give you insight into the mindset holding you back.

If you tend to PLEASE, it's time to strengthen your boundaries and make decisions based on your values, not just what others want.

​If you OVER-PERFORM, you need to shift from proving yourself to trusting yourself, knowing that you don't have to carry everything alone.

If you struggle with PERFECTIONISM, the goal is to embrace progress over perfection, allowing yourself to take action without overanalyzing.
​

Remember I said you aren't alone? Let me tell you about a time when I fell deep into the trap of performing, pushing myself to prove I was capable, even as the weight of leadership was pulling me under.  I share this story in Character Driven Leadership.

I had been confidently managing everything on my plate until a large new contract came in. The increased responsibility, travel, staffing, and budget had me scrambling to hold everything together. I felt like Lucy in that old I Love Lucy episode with the conveyor belt—things moving faster than I could handle, and no way to keep up. 

Because of that:

• I didn't always keep my word.
• I didn't follow through on promises.
• I neglected to listen to people's ideas and input, instead railroading through with my own plans.

​I was so focused on proving that I could handle it all that I lost sight of how my leadership was affecting my team.

The shift was dramatic. My once-trusting team started pulling away.

• They stopped getting behind my ideas.
• Their work performance dropped.
• They lacked enthusiasm when I delegated tasks.
• There was no engagement, just tension, bickering, and whispering that stopped when I walked into the room.

​Eventually, it all culminated in a grievance being filed against me.

I remember the feeling so clearly. I was afraid I would be fired, but I also felt an overwhelming exhaustion and burnout that made me want to quit. I had been trying so hard to hold it all together, but in the process, I had lost the very trust and connection that made leadership meaningful.

It wasn't until I PAUSED and PONDERED, reflecting on what happened, that I realized the truth. I had been performing, not leading. I had been caught in the pressure to prove myself instead of trusting myself. The PIVOT came when I realized that I needed to realign with my values, communicate honestly, and create a sustainable leadership style for both my team and me.
​
Here's the truth in a nutshell. No matter where you land, the goal is to shift toward Character Driven Leadership, which is about making values-based decisions and leading authentically.

You don't need to prove yourself!

Just be yourself!

​Character Driven Leadership means making intentional, value-based decisions rather than reacting out of habit or fear. By reflecting on your results and implementing the strategies in Character Driven Leadership, you can start leading in a way that feels authentic and sustainable.

Get the first chapter now!

In Character Driven Leadership, you'll discover how to lead authentically, impactfully, and with balance through step-by-step guidance. This book will help you lead in a way that feels good. Here's what Michelle Vella, CCS has to say about it:
​

Keep reading and growing as a nonprofit leader

​This information in the quiz comes from Character Driven Leadership for Women - A 5-Step Guide to Shape Your Nonprofit Management Style with Strong Values, Ethics and Morals. If it feels like it's speaking to you, grab the first chapter of Character Driven Leadership. 

When you learn to be a Character Driven Leader you will help you step into leadership in a way that feels authentic, aligned, and sustainable. I've experienced it, and so have my clients and students! Read the book and join the membership, and you can experience it too!

~ Kathy 

P.S. To learn more about how to do the self-reflective work of building your character, join The Training Library. Inside, you'll find practical, on-demand courses and personalized coaching that are always within reach. It's like having a trusted mentor in your corner, guiding you through every challenge. You'll gain the skills and confidence to lead with ease, balance, impact and character. No more second-guessing, no more struggling alone.
​

​​Ready to Lead with Confidence and Impact?

The nonprofit sector doesn't always give women leaders the support and training they deserve—but that's not your fault.

I've been where you are, juggling leadership demands while trying to find balance and confidence. I created The Training Library to provide nonprofit leaders like you with practical, on-demand courses and personalized coaching, all within reach.

It's like having a trusted mentor in your corner, guiding you through every challenge.
No more second-guessing. No more struggling alone.

Inside The Training Library, you'll gain the skills and confidence to lead with ease, balance, and impact—so you can thrive at work and in life.
​
Master Nonprofit Leadership—With Training, You Can Trust.
Join The Training Library today and take the first step toward confident leadership.