It was an unexpected twist. A seemingly benign LinkedIn training sent Margaret and David into a spiral to silence the inner critic. Here’s what happened. Margaret and David attended what promised to be a mundane topic: a training on how to write better posts on LinkedIn. David left the training beating himself about all he was doing wrong. His inner critic, nicknamed “The Sledgehammer,” was having its way with him. When that Inner Critic is railing, there is suffering. So, how does one even begin to silence the Inner Critic? By which we mean that relentless voice within that can dash hopes, c ..read more

Coaching for Accountability What happens when a coach holds a client’s feet to the fire? And the follow-up question might reasonably be, “Why would anyone sign up for that??” Actually, accountability — which can feel a lot like having someone hold our feet to the fire — is one of the many tools coaches use to help clients make the change they long for. In this episode, David and Michelle delve into the empowering value of engaging with a coach, particularly around accountability. Having a professional coach by your side can empower you to uncover and overcome limiting beliefs, achieve life and ..read more

Forgiveness and Self-Forgiveness Discussion Do you have a pain in your neck? Any chance it’s related to the practice of forgiveness? In this episode, David and Margaret share their insights on the practice of forgiveness. They focus particularly on self-forgiveness. Drawing from his experience managing self-criticism, David reveals how forgiveness has been a transformative practice for him. And they observe that most people have a very narrow relationship with  and understanding of forgiveness. So, does forgiveness mean MORE than just letting other people off the hook? They delve into the ..read more

Master the Art of Coaching: Essential Skills for Leaders Leadership is no longer defined by barking orders and expecting compliance; in today’s dynamic work environments, the leaders who stand out are the ones who master the art of coaching. Coaching is a subtle yet powerful art of guiding, not directing, and helping individuals and teams to reach their full potential. While it may sound simple, effective coaching requires distinct skills and principles.  In this episode, Michelle and David unpack the secrets behind great coaching and explore how mastering coaching techniques can transfor ..read more

Most of us set goals. Whether to finish our studies, get a promotion, meet a deadline for a project, or achieve a sales or fundraising target. But what happens when we fail to achieve what we aim for? We can sometimes feel disappointed, discouraged, and even ashamed. However, contrary to popular belief, failing to achieve a goal is sometimes a good thing. In this podcast, David shares with Margaret how he recently failed to achieve an objective, how he handled it, and why such failers are essential for our growth and development. Margaret and David also discuss how Hyper-Achievers routinely av ..read more

Margaret and David recently discussed the topic of (sometimes not so) graceful endings. You know the ones: a project ends, a marriage dissolves, or a loved one passes.  You can read more about that topic in David’s Blogpost here.  If you’re coming to the end of something in your life, feel free to reach out to one of us.  We’d love to help you through that with some coaching. The post Ep 134: On Graceful Endings appeared first on Fundraising Leadership ..read more

Do you create detailed plans, set goals, and schedule your days to control every aspect of your life? Do you also find that as much as you try to maintain a sense of predictability, life throws curveballs that can leave you frustrated and unfulfilled? In this episode, Margaret and David discuss a better approach: setting plans and goals while keeping them loose to be flexible and spontaneous when circumstances do not unfold as you expect. This requires that you let go of control. Something many managers and leaders would rather avoid doing at first. Until they realize they are sabotaging thems ..read more

Discover the power of Leadership Stakes in the nonprofit world.  Join Janice, David, Margaret, and Michelle in lively conversations, offering thought-provoking insights and practical demonstrations. Want to learn more? you can read our blog post about the importance of creating a stake here. We challenge our listeners to contemplate an upcoming conversation or group activity and create a stake. Will they prioritize peace or clarity? Is it about propelling a project or fostering team cohesion? Though their goal may not be narrowly defined, they’ll likely witness positive outcomes through t ..read more

David and  Michelle talk with the founder of ReD Associates, Christian Madsbjerg. Christian shares insights on seeing beyond the obvious, understanding social silences, and the power of deep observation in a world dominated by screens and opinions. You can read an excerpt of Christian’s latest book on our blog here. Get your copy of Look: How to Pay Attention in a Distracted World here. Christan challenges listeners to choose a topic they’re passionate about, whether it’s homelessness, money, or even social interactions. Instead of forming immediate opinions or preconceived notions ..read more

Janice and Margaret chat with Homaira Kabir, a leadership coach and Founder and CEO of the Goodbye Perfect Project. They discuss her new book, Goodbye Perfect, and delve into the elements that contribute to a woman’s confidence, highlighting the distinctions between different levels and types of confidence. Homaira challenges listeners to try the SING exercise during their personal or professional celebrations: S. which represents “See,” prompts them to recognize when something positive has occurred. I. which stands for “Internalize,” encourages them to fully embrace and experience the celebr ..read more