I keep seeing it – a well-intentioned board hires a leader with a new vision for the organization. The board gets excited, sensing the change they’ve been waiting for. Enamored with their new hire, they seek to be “supportive” by standing aside through changes they don’t quite understand and/or agree with. They provide all the latitude…until. Until something goes objectively wrong, or just feels so off that the board snaps back into place with a response that is so abrupt i

Before you start choosing your tools, decide what you are building. Several months ago, a newly hired ED I was working with asked me if I could help build out an agenda for the board retreat her board chair had asked her to plan. They already had a couple of activities in mind and a venue lined up, but my first question was what they were seeking to accomplish with the retreat, and – as I find often to be the case -- they were not quite sure. I have worked with enough organiz

A few years ago, I was approached by an Executive Director who wanted an executive team retreat to create trust on her team. She felt her executive leaders were undermining her and unable to work together. She wanted to know if I could provide a retreat to, “Get everyone on the same page.” A retreat alone was not going to create the foundation of trust for collaboration, so I declined. Valid concern, wrong solution. I shared my perspective with her, she had her retreat (not w

Over the last few years, nearly half of my coaching clients have disclosed an ADHD diagnosis or a challenge related to staying organized....

Truth be told – a staff retreat alone won’t do much. Nonprofit staff retreats are effective when they are a component of an overall...

Tell them what to do. And then tell them again. Do you need a supportive, accountable board? Of course you do, and explicit expectations...

“How can I get visibility into how my employees spend their time?” Don’t. This question has come up so many times with clients in the...

One challenge to building an inclusive board of directors is the fact that your board members are most likely to have connections to...

Often I hear frustration from leaders disappointed that their great ideas for organizational improvements fall apart upon implementation...

Redirect those fly-by board member suggestions & comments. It’s incredibly common for board members to inadvertently send staff down...