One strained relationship can completely decimate team dynamics. Have you ever had that ONE person that completely rubs you the wrong way? Let me tell you a story of my colleague from years ago; we’ll call her Janice. Janice was a member of the leadership team at a small organization Read more…
Accountability is such a critical aspect of a healthy culture. Accountability builds trust, and trust is the foundation for a functional and healthy organization. A few weeks ago I wrote about a vision for an ideal school/organizational culture that included having a culture of accountability. Recalling various discussions with clients Read more…
One of my clients is struggling with a pretty dysfunctional leadership team. It’s a small team, but they have all the classic characters: My client and I have been working through some different approaches, and this week we talked about one of my favorites: a shared learning experience. Sometimes, when Read more…
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 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 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 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 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 Read more…
Healthy organizations will spend time developing a core set of values that drive the way they work as an organization. It is important to have clarity on values because it provides an anchor for providing feedback when someone has fallen short of the agreed upon expectations. But are work values Read more…
Earlier this year, I wrote something for the blog that struck a nerve with lots of people. What was the post? Five Signs Your Boss Might be Making You Sick. Turns out there are a lot of toxic bosses out there. I didn’t get a lot of public engagement with Read more…