To borrow from William Shakespeare and King Henry IV, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” The line signifies the difficulties of being the leader, the person that carries the burdens of responsibility of running their organization, be it a Kingdom, a corporation, or a nonprofit organization.
So, where do you look for support?
As a nonprofit ED/CEO, you face multiple challenges, and opportunities, that occasionally require the need for outside assistance. That might mean the need for an impartial sounding board that can help you focus and define the issue at hand; or someone to analyze that issue, suggest a solution, and let you implement it; or possibly manage the whole process for you.
So, the question is: do you need a consultant or a coach?
This should not be cause for alarm or feelings of inadequacy that you cannot manage all of the work of the agency-it should allow you to feel relief that you can find someone to come in, lift the load that you are under, and assist in setting a forward course. Remember: we are all not experts at everything.
So, the question remains: do you need a consultant or a coach?
While it seems that they do similar work, there are different aspects to each role. To determine your need, you should evaluate the issue or problem that you are facing. The consultant focuses on a particular area of need and will work with a group of people – For example, Board, Finance, or Operations. Is the board facing alignment issues? Are the finances out of order? Have staff and operations slipped into non-efficient work habits? The consultant can bring a new perspective to your needs as well as a deeper knowledge of your specific challenge or opportunity. They can come in with a set scope of work, with defined costs and time frame, and address the issue as needed, and complete the project.
The other choice is to consider a coach. A coach will work on a one-on-one basis and help you identify and address a unique combination of issues to help you become more effective in your job. The coach can help you build on your own strengths while facilitating your growth as a leader. The coach can provide impartial, objective, and confidential tactics as a “silent partner” as you grow and strengthen your nonprofit organization. In contrast to the consultant, a coach may have an open-ended scope of work, work with you on a periodic basis such as once a week, or twice a month, and expect to see you make the changes that you need.
To determine which you need:
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT
Carefully outline what it is that you want the outside help to do with you. Solve the problem, analyze the problem for you to solve; help with coaching you or training the Board, or perhaps fill in the need for a full-time employee. Are you looking for short-term results or long-term individual growth?
KNOW WHO YOU WANT
When looking for a consultant or coach, there are several aspects to keep in mind. Be prepared to research who has expertise in your field. For example, is the person you are considering keeping current on the trends affecting nonprofits today? Does the candidate have the personal qualities that will result in a successful completion of the project? How does the candidate demonstrate valuing diversity and having sensitivity to your mission and your clients?
Additionally, while thorough knowledge of managing nonprofits is a given, does the candidate that you hire require specialized knowledge of your program area. Possibly. There are two sides to this question. If your issues involve a specific program, then someone with ‘inside’ knowledge of the workings of the field may be necessary. On the other hand, the consultant or coach without that specific knowledge may be someone that will bring a new perspective and thinking to your issue and may be a better fit for your needs. The interview process should help you determine what is needed in your circumstances.
Answering these questions will help you define WHO might work best with your agency and supporting you in solving the issues at hand.
In Part II, we will discuss the Process to Make the Consultant relationship work.