Last week I was working with a client who is a transitioning teacher. We are in the “Focus” stage of our work together, during which I work with clients to develop a clear vision of what they are looking for and to get focused on what matters most. We’ve talked a lot about what burned her out in her years of teaching, and why she feels called to leave the profession. At the same time, Read more…
Last week I was discussing the importance of integrity. A colleague asked me what integrity meant to me. (Don’t you hate it when people don’t just let you throw out a fancy word and move on? 😔 😂 ) I shared that, to me, acting with integrity means Then she asked, what does it look like when someone doesn’t have integrity? What are the “tells”? (Again with the hard questions, friend?!) Before I even came Read more…
While I generally consider myself an organized person, there are moments when I feel completely out of control. Times during which I get up each day and crank through a to-do list that is scattered across multiple open windows on my laptop, at least two different post-it note pads, my desk calendar, and one or two journals. Or I have 4 different projects going at once and I think about one while working on another Read more…
One of the issues with success is that we sometimes end up in places and suddenly think, “Wait. How did I get here? Who am I to be sitting at this table? Do I really deserve this?” Imposter syndrome is real and it can be debilitating. It keeps us from using our voices, from sharing our unique perspectives, and from taking necessary risks. I’ll share a moment of imposter syndrome I have felt recently. Here’s Read more…
No, not right now, but yep, I’ve definitely been there. And I have clients who have said this to me. Some version of “I don’t know what to do – I don’t love this anymore.” Or they tell people they love their job, even when they secretly don’t. When we work in mission-driven spaces, we are expected to love our jobs. In his book, The Good Enough Job, Simone Stolzoff marvels at how our culture Read more…
I have been reflecting a lot on my management experiences over the years as I work with new managers through my online courses and 1:1 coaching. My first formal management role came when I was just 8 years into my work experience, and I had been a teacher for the first 7. To say I was shooting from the hip is an understatement. I had no formal training in leadership or management, my BA and Read more…
Wait, what? Doesn’t everyone want employees who will go “above and beyond”? I don’t. Every once in a while, sure. But a lack of boundaries at work is a fast track to burnout. Without clear boundaries, your mental and physical health suffers, and your risk of being taken advantage of increases tremendously. What does it look like when you don’t have boundaries? What is the risk? You might read this list and think, yeah, that Read more…
I recall a time during my nonprofit leadership experience during which I was wildly irritated every time someone complained about “lack of transparency.” Defensiveness would kick in and I’d immediately have thoughts along these lines: Now, all of these things might be true, AND… I have an evolving hypothesis. I think it’s possible that naming “lack of transparency” is a symptom of something else related to overall poor organizational culture, and not an actual lack Read more…
Let’s talk about toxic workplaces in the nonprofit sector. So many people I talk to have either experienced a toxic workplace, are experiencing one currently, or know someone who is. I know many people (myself included) who have left toxic jobs. And it is hard. People in these roles often care about the mission, they see how the organizations they work in are poised to do good work. Some endure negativity and judgment or feelings Read more…
This week I read the funniest book review I have ever read. Yes, it was on Goodreads, and we’ve already established that I don’t really love the reviews on Goodreads. I am usually annoyed by them and always take them with a grain of salt. Here’s what happened. I was listening to a motivational talk from a social media marketing expert (I know, sounds riveting, lol). She mentioned the book The Gap and the Gain Read more…