Confidence is widely recognized as one of the most essential traits of strong leaders—but is it a skill or a quality? Can practice really make confidence perfect?

That, and more, in today’s Lunchtime Links:

Nature versus nurture: Jack Dorsey, the mind behind Twitter and Square, recently interviewed Diane von Furstenberg during Fast Company‘s Innovation Uncensored conference. When Dorsey asked the fashion icon how she dealt with a lack of confidence, she answered that she never suffered from it, saying, “That’s about all I was good at!” Kate Brodock reflects on that comment on Forbes.com, noting that “we’ve always treated confidence as a character trait or a state of mind…a quality.”  But, she points out, maybe von Furstenberg is on to something: Maybe women would benefit from thinking of confidence as a skill. “Perhaps the shift in mindset could give some women (and men) a boost,” Brodock writes. “It seemed to have done Diane quite well.” How do you practice your confidence?

The nonprofits leading the way: Nonprofits offer their staff a unique work environment, and this year’s “Best Nonprofit Employers to Work For” report by The Nonprofit Times highlights some of the best reasons to work for one. Nonprofit expert Joanne Fritz shares three highlights. The first, “caring about employees,” is a big one. “People who work in nonprofits often work long hours and on heartbreaking causes. They need to be nurtured. Nonprofits are in a perfect position to both understand and do something to bolster the spirits of their employees,” she writes.

Every day is special: Associations often offer membership deals or special benefit packages, but Jeffrey Cufaude argues that what you offer members should be special every day. “The real opportunity is creating everyday items that in and of themselves are so full of value that they are experienced as special by whomever purchases and uses them,” he writes. “And it can be as simple as asking ‘What are we going to do to make this effort extra special?’ for all of our work.”

What’s on your reading list today? Let us know in your comments below.

Diane von Furstenberg, shown at a Bloomingdale's store in 2011. (photo by electric stove/Flickr)