Some of the participants in the study did discuss what they meant by "board leadership." A number of personal qualities of leadership came up repeatedly during discussions. Some of these qualities may seem innate, but many arise from the alchemy of blending the desire to "make a difference," together with known/learned skills and the opportunity to act.

• Good leaders exhibit passion, commitment and vision, and they articulate these clearly.
• They have the ability to communicate with and engage others. They know what they do not know, are willing to take risks, are comfortable seeking outside help, and are honest and forthright in recognizing and naming problems.
• They are able to support the executive director by making time available to sustain his/her vision and implementation. However, the board's first loyalty is to the mission and the constituencies the organization serves.

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