“Coaching gives me a sense of empowerment because it creates a space on a regular basis for me to examine how I’m doing what I do; otherwise, in my normal day-to-day life as an executive, I’m completely consumed with what I have to get done. Coaching is a tool for stepping back and assessing how I’m spending my time, and seeing what I’m not getting done that’s important. My coach helps me figure out what kinds of tools I can use to change that, in a gentle and supportive way that holds me accountable for taking action. Without coaching, I’m reactive most of the time; with coaching, I’m planning and being more intentional with my days.”
~ Nonprofit Arts Executive Director

In my 13+ years as a nonprofit professional, I’ve heard this same story too many times to count - but without the “with a coach” benefits. This is what inspired me to enter the coaching field. Nonprofit leaders, in organizations of all shapes and sizes, are consistently under tremendous pressures. However, they are consistently NOT receiving the necessary, personal support that would enable them to sustain their passion while growing as a leader.

Coaching is an accessible, personal and highly effective resource that supports the person being coached, as well as the organization that person leads. When integrated into the Capacity Building and Organization Development plans of an organization, coaching takes leaders beyond what consulting can do: coaching increases personal capacity and problem-solving abilities, working beneath the surface to get to the root of an issue, where lasting transformation can occur.

Coaching has been a standard professional development tool in the corporate sector, growing out of the organizational development field in the 1950s. Since the late 80s and early 90s, the coaching profession has been formalized and practitioners can be trained at any number of schools and certification programs.

More recently, funders and management support organizations have begun to study and fund coaching for nonprofit leaders. CompassPoint Nonprofit Services has been on the leading edge, pulling together its resources to launch the Coaching & Philanthropy project. [More research on coaching and nonprofits can be found under links.]

Nonprofit leaders seek out coaching to increase their effectiveness in a wide range of areas. Do you find yourself wanting support in any (or all!) of the following?

Personal Development

• balance and boundaries between professional and personal life
• increase feelings of confidence and personal empowerment
• reduce and find techniques for managing stress
• increase self-awareness
• identify personal goals for professional advancement and financial security

Professional Development

• become a better manager, motivator and mentor for staff
• lead organization through transition or culture shift
• improve interpersonal relationships with staff, board and donors
• discover and maximize personal leadership style
• expand your circle of influence beyond your organization and into your community or the broader nonprofit sector
• develop goals and an action plan for leadership growth
• balance big picture, visionary work with daily implementation tasks
• improve time management and organizational skills for increased effectiveness

Drawing on my extensive experience in and understanding of the nonprofit sector, I specialize in working with nonprofit leaders to achieve their highest potential, for themselves and their organizations.