Hating Hoops

Shooting hoops is great.

Hula hoops can be lots of fun.

Hoop earrings are a statement piece.

But having to jump through hoops to complete a leadership program that doesn’t have direct relevance to your work is an annoying waste of energy and resources.

I understand the value of a well designed curriculum. I’ve built quite a few over the years. The thing that frustrates me is when following the program takes precedence over providing the training or facilitation that leaders really need.

Circumstances change. Things happen. Plans that made perfect sense no longer fit.

That doesn’t mean we have to throw away all the good pieces we’ve prepared, but it does mean we should be adaptable to current realities.

In my work with leaders and leadership teams I have some solid frameworks for Healthy Leaders and Healthy Organizations that form the basis for ongoing programs. I believe in them deeply. I’ve also developed more than 30 specific workshops that engage with those foundations, and I’m regularly adding to that supply to better serve my clients.

I know that my business would be more scaleable and marketing would be more clear if I created a rigid program that addressed the most common issues. It would make it easier for charity leaders to sell the expense to their boards if they could point to a recognized standard offering. And I could take on more clients if I didn’t spend time and energy adapting, redesigning, and customizing content to align with each organizations particular needs.

But that just doesn’t interest me.

I have no interest in becoming a larger business if that requires my clients to jump through a series of hoops I put in front of them regardless of their context. it’s just not for me.

To be clear, I have great respect for large leadership and consulting firms. In some ways I envy the stability and platform they establish. Certainly their reach is admirable. More people doing good work in this sector is very welcome.

I gladly recommend some of those people and programs when they seem to be the best fit.

What my clients receive is less polished, less predictable, and perhaps sometimes less traditionally professional.

It’s really just me.

And I am embracing the strengths and weaknesses that come from the way I work best and serve charity leaders in the particular seasons and situations they lead through.

If that sounds good to you I’d love to see how we can collaborate on bringing Healthy Leaders and Healthy Organizations to your team.

Contact me if I can be helpful to you and/or your organization.

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