How to avoid becoming just another burned-out executive director
Gary Bagley
Nonprofit Executive Coach | Board and Leadership Team Coach | Strategic Planning Consultant
I hope that you had a restful and rejuvenating holiday season.
Welcome to the first issue of my newsletter, "Bagley-isms." I'll share some insights on leadership and coaching here, link to blog posts with some more content on a variety of topics, and let you know when I am offering a new course or webinar.
Seeing so many colleagues crawl into year-end gasping for air resurrected my thoughts on avoiding burnout.
After my 10th anniversary as a nonprofit leader, one of the biggest compliments someone could pay me was that they were surprised that I had been in my job as long as I had been. I wasn’t exhibiting any of the telltale symptoms of the fabled burnt-out executive director.
You know the signs:
As I considered my own leadership, I knew that there were good days and bad days.?
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I guess my penchant for change, which pairs nicely with my ever-present dissatisfaction with the status quo, fueled the good days.?
My relationships with staff, board, donors, community partners, and colleagues topped off my tank.?
The good days were about being able to envision positive change and intentionally engaging in behaviors that fostered my ability to do that.?
But, friends, it wasn’t all just dumb luck. I learned a lot from watching trusted colleagues who were keeping it fresh. I tried out some of their tricks and developed a few of my own.
Check out this blog to see which Executive Director you relate to (or work for!) - "Newbie," "I Got This … I Think,“ "Energized," or "Just Burned-out" - and pick up a few suggestions for avoiding the bitter (and I mean, "bitter") end.
I'd also love to hear your ideas on how YOU keep it fresh. Drop me a few comments.