Why? One primary reason is that organizational leaders are being impacted at unprecedented levels by uncertainty and upheaval within organizations and in our society broadly. As the International Coaching Federation’s 2022 Consumer Awareness Study states, "In times of great change, and increasing pressures and demands, coaching is only seen to be more relevant."
 
But why are so many more organizations turning to coaching? Can't consultants offer the same kind of services? Let’s look at ways that they differ and how they can complement each other. 

Co-written by: Ed Rogan & Michelle Saddler
 
After the surge in COVID-19 cases earlier this year due to widely circulating variants, new case numbers have been falling steadily for weeks now, causing many states to lift restrictions. In most areas of the country restaurant customers are returning to in-person dining, students are back in the classroom, travelers are going on flights and cruises, sports fans are returning to stadiums at full capacity, and employees are returning to offices that had been vacated for almost two years. Despite this re-opening, the world is far from the way things used to be, and the work environment is no exception.

As we approach the national holiday that celebrates the life and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. it seems appropriate to revisit the reason we NEED a National Holiday to reflect on his legacy, and what we, as nonprofit leaders can and should DO with such a holiday. 

Editor’s note: Our community includes many exceptional leaders. From time to time, Valtas gives voice to them by including their commentary on our blog. The following article is borrowed from LeadingWell with the author's permission. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!​

I received feedback from quite a few readers after posting my last story about selecting a new CEO or ED. One reader said that before selecting a new CEO, it is important to have some foundational aspects in order, specifically:

• The board is clear about its role and about the difference between governance and service.
• Board and staff are aligned around a strategic plan.
• The board has an emergency plan if the ED is not able to continue to serve.
• The board focuses on professional development and meets frequently with the ED to discuss progress toward the strategic plan as well as strengths and weaknesses of the ED, the organization, and the team.

A different reader made this same point and shared the following story which illustrates what happens when the Board fails to onboard the new ED, set objectives for them, and monitor performance.

As we began to prepare this posting earlier this summer, COVID was fading, vaccines were rising, and reopening in September 2021 seemed to be the focus for many of our clients and community partners.  What a difference a month can make!  The Delta variant and all of the uncertainty have led to significant delays in reopening plans for most organizations. It seems like each day there is new information for leaders to consider as they work to keep their staff, clients, and community safe while delivering on their mission. Our Reopening “GPS” continues to be “recalculating our route” with no one best path forward, but we hope these thoughts are helpful as you consider strategies for your organization. 

No question about it, interviewing and hiring somebody is a pretty big deal. If you're a manager tasked with bringing a new employee on board, not only is the candidate you choose going to influence your own career success to a large degree, but you're also going to be spending a huge chunk of your waking life with the individual in question.

One recent study from HP Workplace, in fact, suggests that 56% of professionals spend more time with their “work family” than they do with their real family!

Hi everyone, sorry this post is a day late (my laptop updated at the most inconvenient time last night and took hours). Before we get to this week’s topic, quick announcement. BEER, which stands for Beverage to Enhance Equity in Relationships, took a break last year, but is now back on this year. It is a time for foundation staff and trustees and nonprofit staff and board members to get together in their cities and just hang out and see one another as human beings. It usually happens around the Summer Solstice, so this year it’ll be around June 17th or 18th. Of course, grabbing some fries or ice cream together preferably outdoor or virtually is by no means a substitute for meaningful change in philanthropy, but it’s a start.