I lost my star employee because I was too busy to really listen. Sarah's resignation taught me that Executive Presence isn't about projecting confidence—it's about creating space for difficult conversations before they become crises. The leadership skill that transforms everything.

The relationship between your nonprofit board and executive director can make or break your mission. Most organizations operate under "toxic niceness" - avoiding hard conversations to maintain peace. This must be broken through before breakthroughs can occur. Learn how to build unshakeable trust.

I recently heard someone say their business development staff isn't reaching out because "I don't have anything to sell right now." But buyers are getting slammed with pitches from strangers. The time to connect isn't when you need the sale—it's in advance. Build trust first.

15,000 to 25,000 nonprofits will close in the next two years—six times higher than normal. This crisis will impact your business, employees, and community in ways you haven't considered. The organizations that survive will master collaboration over competition.

We're wired to hold on, but letting go is essential for leadership and personal growth. Discover why your brain resists change and learn practical steps from the NCD Process to release what no longer serves you. Start small, create space for new opportunities, and find freedom on the other side.

I used to think I was a good communicator until I noticed conversations weren't going as hoped and relationships were strained. Here are 5 clear signs you might benefit from communication coaching - from avoiding difficult conversations to constantly clarifying what you "really" meant.

The biggest obstacles to success aren't what you don't know—they're what everyone else knows about you that you can't see. These blind spots sabotage relationships and careers. Learn how the Johari Window reveals what others see clearly but you're unaware of, plus a 3-step plan to bridge the gap.

Ever find yourself paralyzed by fear of what might happen in the future? Future tripping - that anxiety-driven mental time travel - sabotages our ability to listen and respond authentically. Learn to distinguish between healthy planning and destructive worry, and discover how presence transforms conversations.

The conversations we avoid are often the exact ones that could transform our workplace. Research shows teams engaging in healthy conflict are 76% more likely to achieve goals, yet we spend hours weekly just dealing with conflict through avoidance. Learn how challenging dialogue creates trust foundations.

Managing workplace dress codes requires empathy, not enforcement. Learn how to navigate these sensitive conversations by leading with curiosity instead of criticism, understanding the human realities behind policy violations, and building trust while maintaining professional standards.

The employee requests PTO for a family reunion. You've already approved two others that week. What you say next either builds trust or breaks it. Learn three strategies to transform vacation conversations from team morale killers into relationship strengtheners.

I keep seeing the same pattern: Leaders desperately need better communication in their organizations, but when I arrive to facilitate workshops, there's one glaring absence—the leader who called me. How can you lead a transformation you haven't experienced? True leadership means showing up.

It's time we reframe the micromanaging conversation. When used purposefully, micromanaging provides guardrails for growth - it's intentional, time-limited, and milestone-driven. The problem isn't micromanaging itself, but continuing to closely manage someone who already has the skills for the task.

That team meeting where everyone smiles politely while tensions grow? After two decades working with organizations, I've learned what we avoid discussing doesn't disappear—it festers. Teams spend 42% of their time managing conflict instead of core work. The solution? Learning to navigate challenging dialogue.

When my 41-year-old son-in-law completed Army boot camp, he taught me something valuable about perseverance. In organizational change, the teams that thrive aren't those who avoid difficult conversations, but those who develop the skills to persevere through them—creating stronger bonds and breakthrough solutions.

Throughout my career, I've discovered that when I'm feeling stuck or have a long-desired goal that keeps getting postponed, working with a coach provides the momentum I need. A skilled coach offers objective insights and practical guidance that could otherwise take years to discover on your own.

The key to feedback mastery lies in self-awareness. By getting "clean and clear" on your own emotions before delivering feedback, you transform potentially difficult conversations into opportunities for growth and trust-building. In today's competitive landscape, this skill isn't just nice to have—it's essential for success.

When board members show up but don't engage, avoid fundraising, or meddle in operations, it signals your nonprofit is outgrowing its "working board" structure. Through strategic planning and honest dialogue, you can facilitate the necessary transition to a "governing board" that better serves your current phase of development.