Coach Those Who Are Holding Up the World on Behalf of Us All

If there's a more beleaguered group of leaders outside of nonprofits -- especially those who serve the poor -- I don't know who they are. Just when donations are down, the need for food, shelter and jobs is exploding for the people they serve.

For leaders on the front line fighting poverty, it's way beyond 'doing more with less'. They wrestle daily with how to keep the doors open to their constituents and keep their staff engaged, inspired and contributing. As for leadership development for themselves and their team, well, that’s a pipe dream.

And this is where coaches come in. If you're looking for a client base that’s hungry for what you have to offer, look no further.

There are nonprofit leaders in your city right now who can only imagine having a partner who is 100 percent committed to seeing them thrive, amidst deeply challenging circumstances.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself coaching the senior leadership team. Many nonprofits are small to mid-sized, so you’ll probably start at the top of the organization, where your impact is greatest.

Call them forth by asking, What’s waiting to happen here? What are you on the edge of? Then watch out! The senior team – and you – will be off and running.

Odds are they can’t pay you much. But times will get better. And don’t forget these organizations have a Board of Directors, often filled with influential business leaders who could use coaching in their companies. So your networking and referral opportunities may abound.

As you consider who you might serve the best, remember those who serve the most.

Cathy Perry PCC, CPCC, is founder of The InwardBound Center for Nonprofit Leadership. The Center brings leadership coaching and training to organizations who serve the poor, and envisions the day when these organizations are ranked among the finest places to work.

Registered 501(c)(3); accepts tax-deductible donations. www.InwardBoundCenter.org

Nonprofit Special Interest Group Off to Strong Start

I have been amazed at the richness of the conversations we have had so far during our nonprofit special interest group calls. We have a variety of participants ranging from those who are just dipping their toes into the nonprofit waters to those who have experience working with social sector organizations throughout the world. Members of the group hail from Europe, Canada and the United States. Our calls are one hour and are held on the second Monday of each month at 12 p.m. (New York Time/Eastern Standard Time).

Our last call focused on ideas on how to connect and build relationships with potential clients within the nonprofit community. There was a consensus among us that the nonprofit sector is not easy to break into when you are viewed as an “outsider.” One of the recommendations was to join the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals or some other group that has nonprofit professionals as its members. Another idea was to volunteer to do speaking engagements in the nonprofit community in order to connect and build relationships.

Our next call, on March 14th, will be about group coaching in the sector. Our calls are only moderately structured, with half the time devoted to discussing the “topic of the month” determined by the group, and the remainder dedicated to an open forum where people are free to ask questions or get feedback from the group. Please join us!! We have new participants every call. The call-in number is +1.212.457.9879 and the pin is 622186#.

Karen Ramsey, ACC, March 2011