Author Archives: marthaplasley

Historically, most funders and senior teams in the social sector put their focus on program results, and wouldn’t dream of using part of their budget for leadership development. The social sector faces serious problems about cultivating the next generation of leadership. In the Daring to Lead study of more than 3,000 executive directors, 75% plan to leave their organization within the next five years and less than 17% have succession plans. Facing the question of whether to “make” or “buy” leaders, isn’t even an option. They won’t be able to recruit from other agencies simply because there aren’t enough leaders waiting in the wings.… Read more

Whether it’s your first day at your new job or you have just been promoted to a new position, I bet you’re feeling pretty anxious. This is normal for everyone who is given a new challenge. But it is important to face your fears and boost your confidence in order to be successful in your new position.

Why Confidence is Your Biggest Asset

According to a study at the University of Melbourne, there is a strong correlation between confidence and occupational success. Self confidence is a useful thing to have, especially when starting a new job. Confidence will help you on your way to success, in addition to many other benefits.… Read more

“We shape our self to fit this world

and by the world are shaped again.

The visible and the invisible

working together in common cause,

to produce the miraculous.”

—David Whyte, “Working Together”

Coaches witness and participate in creating the miraculous. We see it every day with our clients. Yet, coaching hasn’t even begun to touch the impact that is possible if we become a more integrated partner with the world. We still stand separate and build our businesses. We guard our turf and look to define ourselves in relation to other professions.

The successful coaching businesses of the future will be the ones that step out of their corner and take full advantage of networks and collaborations.… Read more

Most people who call themselves co-facilitators actually practice a tag-team approach where one facilitator works with the group at a time. Using a more collaborative, interactive approach where both facilitators work together simultaneously, almost like improv theatre, we demonstrate deep trust in each other and in the flow. With some practice, we learn to:

• Blend facilitation by building on each other’s ideas
• Make changes in direction without refuting each other
• Model trust without checking excessively with each other
• Interrupt each other with grace
• Jointly hold the needs of the group and the needs of individuals as a gift
• Track time while giving each other space
• Stay aware of natural openings
• Share feedback openly and support each other’s growth
• Empathize and celebrate success

I especially enjoy co-facilitating with Mary Kuentz for her playfulness and directness and because we both value alignment.… Read more

As emotional issues come up, our clients may experience resistance. As coaches, rather than resisting the client’s resistance, we flow with what is happening in a given moment. That doesn’t mean we just let the client wander around aimlessly or that we passively accept oppression or harm. It means when blocks or obstacles arise, we embrace them with curiosity. As a spiritual attitude, we choose to face challenges and explore resistance without trying to change it. Facing whatever troubles arise frees up all the physical and emotional energy that would otherwise be spent in resistance.

If we hear, “I don’t want to talk about that,” or “This is a waste of time,” we use our intuition as we explore.… Read more

Individuals can experience power, privilege and rank as a result of the status they have earned through their own endeavors in life such as professional or academic achievement. These markers of status may be relatively obvious and more easily anticipated and worked with. However, power, privilege and rank that come from the social groups that one identifies with or belongs to, can be more subtle and difficult to name and engage. These forms of social power, privilege and rank are not earned; they are something people are born into.

Every social group has its own set of norms, standards, beliefs and values, all of which help to comprise its unique culture.… Read more

Intuition is a broad cognitive term that refers to information, ideas, knowledge and understanding that come to us outside the rational and logical channels of thinking. It may come to us as an image, spontaneous thought, feeling or a strong sense. Intuition is a response to all that is present, right now. When we share our intuition in the moment, new possibilities can emerge. If we rely solely on our thinking, we miss out on vast sources of knowledge.

When we over-analyze or second-guess the messages that come through our body-emotional intelligence, we miss out. Worst case scenario, our hunch is not fruitful and we learn from that.… Read more

Co-facilitators can support each other by co-designing learning objectives, creating pre-session time for mutual connection, and sharing what each facilitator wants to get from the experience personally. We can set agreements about the support we want to address our personal challenges. Some requests I’ve heard co-facilitators ask:

• To help me track time, will you set a timer for 15 minutes and say, “You have about 2 more minutes”?
• Will you remind me during the debrief to celebrate disappointment and capture the learning?
• To increase alive engagement, can you support me in asking dissatisfied participants for their feedback live in the moment?

… Read more

One of my favorite books is The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope. Cope opens with a bold quote from the Book of Thomas: If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you. The quote resonates deeply for me because I know this to be true from my own experiences. In my sophomore year at university, I encountered Buddhism for the first time and felt a pull in that direction. Despite the hunch, I did not pursue it because there was no clear career path in my mind.

… Read more

Leadership is a quality I’ve always admired. Every parent, teacher, community member or friend that I’ve regarded as a true leader has taught me something very special: We can learn something from everyone we meet.

I have always taken this idea to heart, and it often surprises people to discover that some of the most important teachings I’ve learned have been from my fellow addicts. What’s even more shocking to some is that these are often life lessons we can all benefit from, whether we’ve struggled with addiction or not.

Here are a few important things I’ve learned from brave individuals recovering from addiction that we can all put into practice — not only to help us become better leaders, but to become our absolute best selves.… Read more