Author: Katie Duckworth
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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…
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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 –…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…