Board Meetings Shouldn’t Require a Therapist

The Power of Having Someone Who Gets It On Speed Dial

Title: Real-Time Conversations: Why Nonprofit Leaders Can’t Afford to Lead Alone

Let me ask you something.

Think back over the last week. How many fires did you have to put out? Be honest. Did you handle them well? Or did you push them aside and just hope they’d go away?

Nonprofit leadership is a minefield. Nobody tells you that when you’re stepping into the role. But if you’ve been in the seat even a few months, you’ve already learned it the hard way. Staff issues. Board politics. Fundraising problems. Mission drift. It's all on your plate, and it’s not slowing down.

Here’s the truth I’ve seen over and over: the most successful nonprofit leaders aren’t the ones who know everything. They’re the ones who know who to surround themselves with.

One of my clients recently called me with a frustrated tone in her voice. “I’ve got a board member who’s completely overstepping. They’re micromanaging my staff, and it’s creating chaos. What do I do?”

This wasn’t hypothetical. She needed an answer now, not next month, not after reading a book.

So we got into it.

“First off,” I asked, “are you using Robert’s Rules of Order?”

She paused. “Never heard of it.”

I explained it simply. “It’s the operating manual for your board. Structure. Rules. Procedure. It tells you what you can and can’t do. If you ever need to remove a board member or limit their role, this is how you do it without creating a scandal.”

I sent her the link: robertsrules.com. She downloaded it that night and brought it to the next board meeting. Things didn’t magically fix themselves, but she took back control. That’s what leaders do.

These are the kinds of conversations I have every single week. They’re not about grand strategies. They’re about survival. They’re about making the right decision today, not a month from now.

Now let me say something that might sting: most nonprofit CEOs don’t really know what they’re doing.

It’s not a jab, it’s just a fact.

You can have a degree in public administration, you can sit through leadership seminars, and you can quote Peter Drucker all day long. But none of that prepares you for the moment your development director quits mid-campaign, or when a donor pulls out because of a political comment someone on your team made.

Leadership isn’t a textbook. It’s real-time judgment under pressure. It’s knowing how to read a room. It’s knowing what not to say in an email. And it’s knowing when to ask for help.

Let me be very clear: faking it till you make it will kill your credibility.

It will damage your relationships. It will cost you money, maybe even your job.

One of the worst mistakes I see is waiting too long to ask for help. Nonprofit leaders tend to isolate. You tell yourself, “I’m the boss, I should know what to do.” But leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about making sure you don’t go down the wrong road alone.

I’ve seen good people lose jobs because they mishandled HR issues. I’ve seen great missions fall apart because the board turned toxic. Don’t let your pride become your blind spot.

If you lead a nonprofit, ask yourself:

Do I have someone to call when I don’t know what to do?

Am I reacting emotionally instead of responding with clarity?

Have I let a small issue grow because I didn’t know how to address it?

You need a system. You need protocols. And sometimes, you just need a straight answer.

That’s what coaching is about. It’s not about telling you how to do your job. It’s about making sure you don’t mess it up.

Final Thought

Your organization deserves your best. But you can’t give your best if you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and second-guessing every move.

You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

If you’re leading in the nonprofit world and you’re not having regular, real-time conversations with someone who’s been there, done that, and knows the landmines, you’re risking everything.

The smartest move you can make this year isn’t a new CRM or a better grant writer. It’s surrounding yourself with people who can help you lead better, every single day.