What is a Coach? Therapist, Motivator, Person who holds you Accountable?  No, a coach is a person who helps you use your own tools and resources to accomplish your goals.  You have everything you need to solve a problem – sometimes you just need a guide to help you uncover your superpower. 

What is Coaching?

Coaching is defined as “building awareness that empowers choice and leads to change” Coaching can lead to significant improvement in personal and professional development. Coaching can elevate your entire organization.  Coaching looks different for everyone.  Some have a coach for a few sessions, others may work with a coach for a few years.  You don’t have to decide that now.

How Can Coaching Help a Nonprofit Leader? 

How can coaching help you as a nonprofit leader?

    1. Being a leader in nonprofit organization can be a lonely job.  Most of the time you cannot share with your Board the things you are not confident about.
    2. Your colleagues may be competitors.  A coach can be a confidential partner to help you move forward when no one else can be that for you.
    3. You can open your thoughts to new ideas by looking at something differently
    4. The mission of your organization is important and it impacts those your serve.  Sometimes you need someone outside of the organization to talk with.
    5. Coaching elevates you and your organization

Many new Executive Directors have never done that job before.  You can be thrown into situations that are very new and there is no one to train you.  An Emerging Leader can benefit from a coach to learn new skills.

How to Pay For a Coach

Coaching is Professional Development.  Board members want you to grow as a professional.  It is appropriate to ask for a coach as a part of your professional development.  It can be put in the budget of your organization, a Board member may donate to support or you can pay for it yourself.

Fit

Fit is important for a coach.  A great Coach doesn’t necessarily know everything about your job or life, but they are curious and can ask the questions that make you think differently about a situation.  That is when true change happens.

Find a Coach, talk with several, wait until you find the person that challenges you to be your best.