Coaching Skills for Nonprofit Managers and Leaders: Developing People to Achieve Your Mission

by Judith Wilson, Michelle Gislason

The only nonprofit orientation to coaching skills available, Coaching Skills for Nonprofit Leaders will provide nonprofit managers with an understanding of why and how to coach, how to initiate coaching in specific situations, how to make coaching really work, and how to refine coaching for long-term success.

Coaching Skills for Nonprofit Leaders offers practical steps for coaching leaders to greatness and complements the academic and theoretical work in nonprofit leadership theory. The book can be used by the coaching novice as a thorough topical overview or by those more experienced with coaching as a quick reference or refresher.

Based on the Inquiry Based Coaching? approach, Coaching Skills will strengthen and expand the reader?s ability to drive organization mission, while retaining the intrinsic values of the nonprofit culture and working towards outcomes that create a culture of discipline and accountability and empower others to be even more responsible, accountable, and self-motivated. This book uses accessible language, examples, case studies, key questions, and exercises to

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Kari Utterback · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic!
It gave me language to use with my staff and piers!
Cannot recommend enough!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of coaching and what it looks like in a nonprofit organization. Lots of examples, lists of questions to ask, and resource info. The general model they present is (p 22):
-Mind-Set: Believing in others, Managing needs, Earning trust and showing respect, Staying connected
-Skills: Listening, Inquiring, Giving feedback, Sharing
-Framework: Clarify the focus, Identify the goal, Develop solutions, Create accountability

Essentially, in the process of action, reflection and learning, "More often than not, managers tend to focus exclusively on the action part of this process. That's because all of us are more concerned with results than with what led to those results. When managers focus exclusively on results, they miss opportunities to support the learning and development of the individuals they manager. This focus cuts them off from the reflection and learning process. A coaching approach supports the whole action learning process, not just action." (p 5)

For reference, certain sections I found particularly helpful and plan on sharing:
-Giving Developmental Feedback (p 72-81)
-List of questions to consider when a staff person is not improving (p 165-176)
-How to use coaching after being promoted and supervising a former peer (p 181)
-Coaching someone who is resistant (p 206-211)
-Long list of coaching questions grouped by topic per the above model (p 257-273)

A few particular resources of interest (p 285-287)
-Assoc of Coach Training Organizations: www.acto1.com
-www.judithwilson.com
-CompassPoint Executive Coaching Referral Service: matches individuals with SF Bay Area leadership coaches: www.compasspoint.org/coaching
-International Coach Federation: www.coachfederation.org and use search word "nonprofit"
-Prism Coaching: collective of nonprofit sector coaches of color with focus on cultural awareness: www.prismcoaching.org
-The Coach Approach, Inc.: nonprofit which aids staff in their personal and/or professional lives: www.coachapproachinc.org

[W. Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

In many ways this is a book that will stay with me for awhile. A very helpful and logical approach to adopting a coaching for performance mindset within non-profits. We have been able to integrate this book into some human resource training we do through our non-profit work at World Vision Canada.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful coaching book for managers looking to develop their people. Many examples were provided and suggestions for ways to handle particular scenarios. I also found the question and answer section very helpful. I have already utilized methods discussed in the book successfully with fellow staff members. If you read it, don't forget to check out the many resources in the back of the book!

[Carrie Pitcairn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally rented this book and then ended up buying it! Really relevant to student affairs practitioners. The chapters dealing with the importance of communication and transparency are really good for discussion with Res Life paraprofessional staff. Would definitely recommend!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the authors ;)