I help small to mid-size nonprofit leadership teams navigate strategic changes intentionally, effectively, and confidently through coaching engagements. My mission is to weave together the fabric of people for a stronger community.
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What does it take to move from entrenched to invited? September from B3
Published 12 months ago • 3 min read
September 2025
Hi Reader,
The picture at the bottom of this email captured a perfect moment for me.
Blue skies, movement, the animals, and my kid, all in the first weeks of school while my spouse was out of town helping his mom.
A stolen moment in the midst of chaos.
I took on a challenge recently to notice moments that sustain me and I'm reminded that even the smallest ones can make a big difference.
So often at the end of the day, I mentally catch up and think about what I've missed. When I take this extra moment to noticing what is sustaining and fulfilling to me, I feel calmer, more in touch, and more loving.
What moment is sustaining you right now?
Hit reply to let me know--I'd love to hear!
Team Coaching
From entrenched to invited
Sometimes it feels like the die is cast, the future is predetermined, and nothing is going to change.
The team is locked in a blame game, and each team member holds firm to a narrative that serves themselves in the moment.
The challenge is this: how can a team innovate, solve, and effect change -- or, heck, even be effective -- when its members are entrenched in ways of thinking that actively prevent movement?
It makes me think of a bunch of people pulling from different directions and trying to move in a single direction.
That group can't go anywhere. Everyone is entrenched in pulling THEIR Way.
But you can move the group to INVITE.
Start with noticing. Often, each person is so focused on their own pulling that they haven't even noticed the cumulative tension.
Move to listening. Ask everyone to pause and do some active listening about what matters to them and what makes them pull in their direction.
Ask for awareness. Often, after listening, the pulling slacks a little as team members are more aware of the different perspectives.
Invite into alignment. Team members may now be more willing to move in a similar direction, or at least give less resistence.
tugging from all different ways - AI generated image
Coaching Supervision
Mind if I interrupt you?
Interrupting your client can be a gift! Our coaching competencies encourage us to interrupt with purpose.
But that doesn't make it easy.
That's why it's important to design for interruptions.
The guidance here is clear: before we can design, we need to make sure we're in touch with our internal barometer: WHY do I want to interrupt this client?
Thinking about it during the session might make us feel awkward so supervision can help you understand what's happening for you beneath the surface.
In the meantime, consider designing around these questions with your client:
When is processing out loud is useful to you?
When it is OK to interrupt?
What signal can I give to pause you?
What should I say to you when I interrupt?
Read this!
Coaching Skills for Nonprofit Managers & Leaders Judith Wilson & Michelle Gislason
I've had this book for at least ten years and find myself bringing its wisdom into my team engagements more and more often these days. The 'coaching mode' is useful for all of us, and I love how accessible Wilson & Gislason make these tools - as well as their guidance on when to use (or not use) the coaching approach.
Here's a few nuggets that have come up lately:
Our nature is to give advice, which might get our staff/team/client to a desired outcome faster - but coaching builds leadership.
The most fundamental skill of coaching is listening and there are modes that range from superficial to "fix-it" to engaged.
Feedback can be both appreciative and developmental; both can be positive and challenging.
Coaching is not the be-all-end-all of managing a team, but helping leaders through coaching can provide a a more sustainable work culture and more resilient leaders.
On a personal note
Prioritizing my well being
I've started taking hikes mid-week. Taking a moment to appreciate the view, and move my body, is vital to my well being and the well being of my two pups - Sandy, the senior pup riding in the backpack -- and Shadow, the 90-pound girlie exploring in & around the trails near our home.
We should all look as happy as Sandy!
Hit reply and let me know how you're doing – I'm happy to listen and support.
PS: Interested in learning more about how to create the conditions to build trust on teams? Join me for two upcoming presentations of "Understand Trust on Teams: Psychology, Behaviors, and Building Sustainable Action Plans" for the Nonprofit Learning Lab on September 29 and October 6. Go to the Nonprofit Learning Lab site for details and registration.
Let's work together!
Coaches
Interested in the reflective power of supervision? General Coaching Group Supervision starts Oct 21. TEAM Coaching Group Supervision starts Nov 6.
I help small to mid-size nonprofit leadership teams navigate strategic changes intentionally, effectively, and confidently through coaching engagements. My mission is to weave together the fabric of people for a stronger community.
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