Author: Katie Duckworth

  • What makes a great third sector leader?

    I began coaching a new client this week, the Chief Executive of a youth charity, and it’s got me thinking about what makes for a great third sector leader. Here are five qualities that, in my opinion, make a leader stand out from the crowd: 1. Agility – great leaders are able to adapt to…

  • Motivation: five easy ways to lose it

      #1. You stop focusing on your goal When you lose sight of where you’re going it’s tricky to keep moving forward with any purpose. Motivation needs a clear motive. #2. You don’t have an action plan No milestones to aim for; no way of knowing what to do next; no sense of progress –…

  • What are Aung San Suu Kyi’s values?

    I was talking to a third sector coaching client yesterday about the stunning victory of Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, in Burma’s recent byelection. We’d just finalised a list of her unique set of core values and wondered what Suu Kyi’s values might be? Patience, we could only presume. She…

  • If emails cost 60p

      Were you amazed by the recent rise in the price of a stamp? 60p for first class!? Charities are rightly worried about the impact of this bombshell – from the increase in the price of direct mailing to the cost of communicating with often elderly volunteers who may not be on-line. This price hike…

  • It’s all about people

    Reading the new Third Sector/nfpSynergy State of the Sector report on a crowded rush-hour tube recently, I was struck by the answers to the question ‘what makes for an effective charity?’ Not surprisingly, ‘quality of work and/or services’ comes out top. This is after all what we are all here for. But ‘ability to attract,…

  • How to be happy

    Happiness Expert Dan Gilbert says it all in this inspirational and funny talk from the TED* archives. Originally recorded in 2004, it still has plenty to say about how we can think ourselves happy. Happy Christmas!   *www.TED.com is a not-for-profit organisation devoted to spreading Great Ideas.

  • Coaching – trick or treat?

    There are absolutely no tricks in coaching. In fact, when you get your third sector staff coached, you’ll experience a bag-load of treats. Here are just five of the reasons my current clients are committed to coaching their staff:  It encourages people to take responsibility for their own learning and actions  Coaching improves individuals’ performance…

  • The power of your thoughts

    A few weeks ago on holiday in Greece, I found myself suspended in mid-air at the top of a cliff – freaking out! My hands were shaking. My legs felt like water. There was no way I was going to abseil down this 70-foot cliff, my absolute intention a few moments before. Now, I was…

  • What is a good work-life balance?

    My third sector clients often seek help with restoring their ‘work-life balance’. They’re mostly very committed. They have heavy work loads, put in long hours and take work home – often. But what are they really asking for? What do they mean by a better work-life balance? Most people would say that a good work-life…

  • Coaching marathon – how it went

    Wow! What a week. That was some marathon! My Learning at Work week was absolutely buzzing as I coached dozens of committed and hard-working third sector staff in my marathon ‘speed coaching’ sessions.  It’s amazing what you can achieve in 25 – 40 minutes if both coach and client are focused – which I can…