Ability

Effectively defending and promoting human dignity requires visionary leaders who are ready to be challenged and to adapt their ideas to the fast-changing contexts they work in. They usually operate in a resource-constrained environment, and are highly motivated by their purpose, and embrace optimism as one of their key characteristics. They have to be able to navigate uncertainties with resilience and flexibility, ensuring their organization and team stays aligned with its mission, and are not shy to take tough decisions. In addition to advancing the cause they work on, their time is usually divided between team management, fundraising, board and executive coordination. 

The effectiveness of defending human dignity largely depends on working with an appropriate number of staff or volunteers who are talented, adequately trained, and properly supported and compensated (in any given form). Don't forget that the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts, meaning that your organizational achievement is always better than you would expect from the individual parts, because the way they combine adds a different quality. When you take good care of your tribe, you are much more likely to generate long-lasting impact. 

No leader and member of a tribe is exempt from experiencing personal, emotional or mental challenges related to the nature of their work. The promotion and defense of human dignity exposes individuals to witness or be in close contact with witnesses and victims of gross human rights violations. To uphold the effectiveness of a tribe, it is vital to support its members and continuously build and invest in mental resilience building.