What is non-profit executive coaching? Does your organization need it? How much does it cost? How can you benefit? Get all the answers in this free ultimate guide for 2023, from Mind the Gap Consulting, the experts in non-profit leadership coaching.
Coaches are wonderful people, their job is literally to make sure that you're doing your best, at whatever it is that you do. Their motive isn't to create obstacles for you, it's to help you win.
I still remember my favorite coach from when I was growing up, and how he reacted during the big game.
The ball was just about to hit the floor when I made a wild kick, just catching it and sending it flying past the other players, and right over the net. I was so excited, I ripped my shirt off, and screamed with a primal rage - and my coach, my dear coach, was in tears.
He came over to me, pulled me into a big hug, and said, "Okay, one more time, let's go over the rules of volleyball."
Needless to say, he was a fantastic coach, but I was never very good at sports. Thankfully though, that's not the kind of coaching I wanted to talk to you about.
What I want to talk about is a much more serious kind of coaching, because it's not about a game, it's about a business, an organization, and a purpose - yours. More specifically, I want to talk about what an executive leadership coach is, why they're all the rage for non-profits, and why you may want to consider one yourself.
Let me admit right now though - I didn't come up with all this information myself. Like any smart individual writing a guide, I got a little expert help.
Okay, I got a lot of expert help, whatever.
The point is, I'm going to give you a sort of quick overview, based on what I think you need to know. However, if you want all the details, straight from the experts, I guess you could just skip to the ultimate guide from Mind the Gap Consulting.
It's free, online, and accessible to anyone, just visit https://www.nonprofitfixer.com/nonprofit-fixer-blog/nonprofit-executive-leadership-coaching-guide
It was written by Sean Kosofsky, the founder of Mind the Gap Consulting, and it covers several key topics, such as:
What is leadership coaching?
What are the benefits to you and your organization?
How much is it going to cost?
And, how long is it going to take?
It also includes a whole section dedicated to factors that will affect the cost and effectiveness, and how to find the right coach to match your specific needs.
While many leadership coaches have specific knowledge or experience with particular industries, the guide suggests that you may wish to restrict your search to coaches with specific experience as non-profit executives. It explains that “Simply being a founder, a board member, or having a long-term nonprofit role often is not enough. You want someone who has hands-on experience with the unique challenges of running a nonprofit.”
Picking the right coach is important because the guide suggests that coaching agreements typically last an average of six to twelve months. This period allows the coach and executives time to become familiar with each other, and to ensure that the steps being implemented are the most effective solutions.
Is a leadership coach right for you and your organization, though?
Mind the Gap Consulting’s guide highlights when an executive leadership coach may be the most effective, and which scenarios may call for another approach. For example, coaching is not suggested for low-performing employees, but it can be particularly helpful for leaders suffering from imposter syndrome, or high-performing staff members that need assistance to overcome certain challenges.
Or to put that another way, coaching isn't likely to make bad staff members into good staff members, but it can help turn your good staff members into amazing contributors, working at peak efficiency. Sometimes they just need a little nudge in the right direction, and that's exactly what a coach is for.
Now, what about the cost?
This can be a bit tricky to pin down, because the cost of coaching agreements can vary widely, from totally free, to over $25,000. There are several factors that may affect the price, but you'll have to read the full guide for all the details. It will also highlight what you can do to make sure you get the right specialist for a particular non-profit.
My suggestion, personally, is to just talk to them, and see how they can help.
It's pretty easy, US and Canadian-based non-profits can schedule a 30-minute free consultation, using a form on the Mind the Gap Consulting website. In 30 minutes, either they'll be able to tell you why you need them, or they won't.
If any of this sounds like it may be helpful to you at all, I highly suggest that you read the full guide. It's not that long, it's totally free, and it has lots of helpful advice.
An excerpt I stole from the full guide explains, “This article will fully explain and explore nonprofit coaching, including what it is and what it isn’t, and why it can be an effective and affordable solution for retention, performance, and morale. You’ll learn what makes up the coaching experience, what makes it different from consulting, training, teaching, or therapy, and whether it’s right for you.”
As someone who's read the full guide several times now, I can confirm, it's exactly as advertised.
Be the best leader you can be, at the best non-profit you can build - just visit https://www.nonprofitfixer.com/nonprofit-fixer-blog/nonprofit-executive-leadership-coaching-guide
