Learning to develop others to achieve performance goals, develop skills, solve problems, work productively, and advance their careersHow do you engage and develop others, so they can achieve performance goals, develop skills, solve problems, work productively, and advance their careers? In a 10-year research endeavor dubbed Project Oxygen, Google, Inc discovered the key is leadership coaching. Many other research projects have reached similar results (e.g., HBR Leadership that Gets Results), concluding that leaders who coach their staff create productive, motivated, and successful employees, teams, and organizations.Learning to coach — like learning to lead — is a journey, not a quick fix. In this exercise and practice driven introductory workshop, we will clarify the concept of coaching and hone our coaching skills. Please come prepared with at least one personal or professional goal you are trying to achieve, a difficult decision you are trying to make, a problem you are struggling to solve, or a struggle you are addressing. There will be an opportunity to receive in-room coaching and to coach others on their goal, decision, problem, or struggle.Learning Objectives• Understand when coaching is useful and when it is not• Develop skills for effective listening and asking powerful questions• Learn how […]

Participants will experience a variety of methods to help solve problems and make decisions in a nonprofit setting.Participants will experience a variety of methods to help solve problems and make decisions in a nonprofit setting. The class will present tools to assist participants in examining problems and making decisions within nonprofit settings. It will start with the context in which problem solving and decision-making takes place, and includes examining ethical elements, communication, negotiation, various styles of decision-making, and the importance of stakeholders. The tools section of the class will present six steps and various processes to allow participants to examine the problem solving and decision-making tools they already use and add to their toolbox.Learning Objectives:• Understanding ethical issues when making decisions and solving problems.• Determining root causes.• Involving people in the process of decision making and problem solving.• Identifying steps to problem solving.______________________________________________________________________________________________________About the presenter:Kathleen McCleskey, KM Consulting and Training Connection, is a facilitator, trainer, consultant, and curriculum developer. She conducts classes in project management, multi-day presentation skills class, increasing personal effectiveness, strategic planning, and leading teams and groups are some of the classes Kathleen has conducted in her career.Kathleen has conducted workshops in the United States, Egypt, Guam, Korea, […]

Can we challenge ourselves to move from communicating at to building community with?Whether your organization has decades of experience advocating your issues at the Texas Capitol or if 2025 will be your first time to enter the pink dome, it's essential to take a fresh approach each session to tell the story of your organization and the individuals you serve. Can we challenge ourselves to move from communicating at to building community with? This 2-hour interactive webinar will offer strategic guidance and tactical tools, as well as an opportunity for questions and networking.Nonprofit Austin reserves the right to postpone this opportunity if there is not adequate registration.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Our day will be be facilitated by Lauren Cook. Read more about our facilitator below; Lauren is a writer, strategist, storyteller, and above all, a believer in the power of connecting. She believes when we connect with individuals, ideas, and the natural world around us, we can change ourselves and change the world.For nearly 20 years, Lauren has worked at the intersection of public policy, advocacy, storytelling, and research to lead communications on essential social issues. Prior to founding Connecting Our Stories, Lauren worked for 10 years as a strategist for the Charles Butt […]

Gain a clear understanding of what Impostor Syndrome is, explore its causes, and learn actionable strategies to overcome it.In 2024, internet searches for Impostor Syndrome have surged by 75%, and it's no surprise. 78% of business leaders have felt its sting at some point in their careers, and more surprising, 71% of U.S. CEOs report grappling with these feelings. Yes, even the very leaders at the top of their organizations are not immune.Do you ever find yourself questioning whether you really belong, or worry that you’re just a step away from being exposed as a fraud? If you sometimes feel like everyone else has it all figured out while you’re barely keeping up, you're not alone. These feelings of self-doubt and insecurity are extremely common, particularly among high achievers.This workshop is designed to help you break free from the cycle of Impostor Syndrome. You’ll gain a clear understanding of what Impostor Syndrome is, explore its causes, and learn actionable strategies to overcome it.In this engaging and supportive workshop, you will:Clearly Define Impostor Syndrome: Understand what it is and how it manifests.Uncover the Causes: Explore the underlying factors contributing to these feelings.Understand the Different Types: Learn about the various forms of […]

Facilitated by Lacy Alana.Many non-profit professionals may find themselves grappling with complex emotions—ranging from frustration and fear to a deep sense of malaise. This workshop provides a supportive space to explore these feelings, process their impact, and reconnect with your mission and values in the midst of all the uncertainty and change. Together, we will navigate strategies for sustaining resilience, cultivating hope, and taking meaningful action amidst uncertainty. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, motivated, or somewhere in between, this session will equip you with tools and perspectives to stay grounded.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------More about our facilitator: Lacy Alana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, corporate trainer, multidisciplinary artist, and creator of The Yes And Brain framework.  As Lacy spent time in the clinical, educational, corporate, and expressive arts worlds over the last decade, she recognized that she was having great success blending facets from each discipline into the others.When colleagues asked her to teach them tools to mimic her work, she developed the Yes And Brain framework to serve as a foundational framework for work in each setting.  Over the years, The Yes And Brain Model has continued to be refined, with specialized sub-models and training pathways for many different populations.Lacy has a varied […]

Looking at the bigger picture for nonprofit programs and their organizational performanceSometimes it is challenging to see the forest through the trees. Nonprofits often have many programs running at the same time, and an endless “to do” list for each program. This workshop will guide participants in taking a step back to assess the big picture for their organization, program, or activities. Participants will engage in an evaluation exercise that will include identifying bottlenecks and “traps” their work may have fallen into. Identifying and addressing these bottlenecks and traps will lead to increased organizational agility, resilience, and sustained performance. This learning opportunity will utilize the Liberating Structures EcoCycle Planning micro-structure, an open-source tools.Nonprofit Austin reserves the right to postpone this opportunity if there is not adequate registration.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Our facilitator, Christine Gendron: Christine Gendron is an experienced and entrepreneurial leader, a systems thinker, connector, collaborator, and capacity builder. She has nearly 20 years of leadership experience serving as a resource for nonprofits, policymakers, government, and philanthropy organizations on strengthening outcomes for children, youth, families, and underserved populations.Christine previously served as the Executive Director of a statewide association and advocacy organization for eight years. She stepped into that role when the organization was […]

This workshop will focus on how to tie nonprofit programs to its goals to help accomplish the mission.Managing a nonprofit takes strategic thinking and strategy to be able to purposefully tie their programs to their goals. To do this, program managers need to strategically consider the internal and external factors facing each nonprofit program and the outcomes and results each program will produce. This workshop will focus on how to tie nonprofit programs to its goals to help accomplish the mission. Participants will learn to develop the basic outline of a strategic plan by determining how each program fits into the overall strategic plan of their nonprofit.If possible, participants should bring their nonprofit’s strategic plan with a mission statement, vision statement, and priorities/goals/objectives/strategic initiatives.Learning Objectives:• Understand the differences and relationships between strategic planning, strategic thinking, and operations.• Develop an understanding of the relationship between nonprofit programs and the goals of the nonprofit.• Construct concrete goals.______________________________________________________________________________________________________About the presenter: Kathleen McCleskey, KM Consulting and Training Connection, is a facilitator, trainer, consultant, and curriculum developer. She conducts classes in project management, multi-day presentation skills class, increasing personal effectiveness, strategic planning, and leading teams and groups are some of the classes Kathleen has conducted […]