Note: This guest post is from Katherine Golub, a personal coach and consultant. To learn more about her work, visit CoreBrillianceAcademy.com. Thanks, Katherine! Have you ever facilitated a meeting where things start to feel off, and you aren’t quite sure what to do next? At those moments, do you wish it was easier to figure out … [Read more...]
What You Can Learn by Training Trainers
When was the last time you spent a year planning something – and then launched it? If you felt that unique combination of excitement, anxiety, satisfaction, and relief, then you’ll understand what I was experiencing a week ago. Last Monday, we rolled out the brand-new Training, Facilitation, and Consulting Certificate Program – a … [Read more...]
Hiring a consultant? How be a savvy consumer
Do you need help? Silly question … who doesn’t? As the gig economy expands, many nonprofits and businesses are turning to consultants and contractors to help with a variety of tasks, and to supplement staff capacity. For example, I’m recruited as a consultant to train board and staff members, lead community workshops, … [Read more...]
Graphic Facilitation 101: Telling Your Story Visually
For years, I’ve been fascinated by the work of graphic facilitators, thanks in large part to my friend Julie Stuart at Making Ideas Visible. If you can imagine capturing a meeting or planning session in a series of images – and using what you’ve captured to advance the conversation – you'll begin to understand the power of this … [Read more...]
How to Claim Your Trainer Power
In Tucson, where I lived for many years, there’s a popular line of t-shirts based on the Mexican card game loteria. My favorite, El Mundo, features a picture of Atlas balancing the world on his shoulders. He’s the same fellow, sculpted in bronze, who towers over Rockefeller Center in New York City – knees bent, biceps bulging, head … [Read more...]
How I Started My Consulting Business
In 1993, I sat down with my boss – the last boss I’ve ever had – and said, “I’m giving you two year’s notice.” To his credit, he didn’t laugh. He looked at me, a little confused, and said, “What are you talking about?” “I’m starting a consulting business,” I said, “and I’m going to do it a little at a time.” “OK,” he said. “Tell … [Read more...]
Who is Your Board Fundraising Spark Plug?
Imagine the following scene. The lonely staff fundraiser – let’s call this person Executive Director or Development Director – sits alone in a very small room, thinking about a very large fundraising goal. “Hello, board!” the fundraiser cries out. “Are you there?” A long pause. Nobody answers. “We need to raise a lot of money. … [Read more...]
A Trainer’s Guide to Asking vs. Telling
I have a colleague – a thoughtful, compassionate consultant and educator – who loves to tell people what they need to know. Here’s the relevant research, my colleague says, clicking through the slide deck. Here are the trends. Here are the facts. Internalize this stuff. Use it to change your behavior. This is, after all, a … [Read more...]
When People Stop Coming to Meetings – and What to Do About It
When was the last time you dreaded going to a meeting? If you’ve been avoiding meetings lately – or attending because you have to, not because you want to – you’re not alone. Even worse: if you’re the person who organizes meetings, perhaps you’ve experienced that moment – the moment when you’re thinking, “What if nobody shows … [Read more...]
When Board Members Really Need to Leave
As in professional sports and politics and any number of endeavors, some board members hang on way too long – long after their passion is gone, long after they have anything new to offer. Nonprofit organizations are growing, changing organisms, and they need leaders with the capacity to envision the future in different ways. If your … [Read more...]