Emotional turmoil often signals a misalignment with your values.

The Key to Confident and Effective Leadership

As a nonprofit leader, do you have any guesses about how many decisions you make in a day? Let's agree that it's a lot Maybe better questions are: ​

• Do you make them decisively, quickly, and effectively?
• How confident are you at making your decisions?
• Are you making value-based decisions?

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How you answer these will indicate how you FEEL about leadership.

It overwhelms you and makes you feel sick to your stomach some days, or it challenges you to stay true to yourself, and you feel you are doing a good job at that.

Decisions - Decisions - Decisions

Let's be honest, leadership is full of tough decisions, constant changes in priorities as you deal with the next crisis, and moments that test your patience, confidence, and sanity. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, keep up with all the balls you are juggling, you're not the only one! I think every leader I talk to feels that most days. The constant demands of leadership can leave you second-guessing yourself and wondering if you're making the right choices

But here's the truth. Strong, effective leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about knowing what guides your decisions, and that starts with your values.
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Why Your Values Matter in Leadership

In Character Driven Leadership for Women, I remind us that as pleasers. . .
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"We tend to prioritize the needs and expectations of others over our own needs and desires. We want to be liked and accepted, even if it means sacrificing our own values or boundaries."

And, it doesn't feel good when we sacrifice our values 

Your values define what's important to you and shape the way you lead. They help you:
​- Communicate expectations clearly
- Stay grounded when challenges arise
- Make tough decisions with confidence intact
- Set priorities that align with your leadership goals

Without clear values, you might find yourself constantly reacting, trying to please everyone, or struggling to make decisions. When you know your values, leadership becomes more intentional and fulfilling.
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AN EXAMPLE: Making Decisions with Your Values in Mind

Let's look at how it works. Imagine you have two spots for a professional development opportunity, but four of your team members want to attend. How do you decide?

• If growth and development is a core value, you might choose those who will bring back knowledge and share it with the team.
• If fairness is a guiding principle, you might rotate opportunities based on who hasn't had training recently.
• If team impact is your focus, you might select individuals in roles that will benefit the organization the most.

There's no perfect answer, but when you make a decision through the lens of your values, you can stand by it with confidence.
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Leading with Values Makes Leadership Easier

In Character Driven Leadership for Women, I explain how ️ emotional turmoil is often a signal of a misalignment with your values. If you feel frustrated, resentful, or unsettled, pause and ask yourself.

"What value of mine is being tested right now?"
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For example:

If honesty is important to you, even small white lies may irritate you.
If respect matters deeply, being dismissed in a meeting may hit a nerve.
If collaboration is a top value, an "every person for themselves" mindset on your team may cause frustration.

Recognizing these connections helps you manage emotions and respond in a way that aligns with the leader you want to be.
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How to Identify Your Core Values

If you haven't clearly defined your values, here's where to start.
Reflect – Where do you naturally invest your time, energy, and attention? What books, podcasts, or causes draw you in?
Journal – If you could pass on three values to your team or children, what would they be?
Narrow it down – From a list of values, instinctively pick 10, then challenge yourself to choose just three. These are the values that truly drive your leadership.
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Character Driven Leadership for Women is Coming in March 2025

In Character Driven Leadership you’ll discover how to lead authentically, impactfully, and with balance through step-by-step guidance in this book, helping you lead in a way that feels good.
If you want to dive into the book now, you can start with the first chapter now!
Here is what Haley Cooper had to say after she read it:

Highly recommended nonprofit leadership book Character Driven Leadership for Women

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Leading with Values Makes Leadership Easier

In Character Driven Leadership for Women, I encourage readers to "follow the steps in this book and you will get on the right track, the track that honours who you are and the work you are here to do, aligns with your values, and feels so much better!" If you want to learn how to do that, grab the first chapter of the book and start your journey to values-based decision-making and leadership.

Knowing and using your values to guide your leadership builds trust, consistency, and confidence. It helps you lead with integrity, stay composed under pressure, and make decisions that FEEL RIGHT, not just in the moment but for the long-term impact you want to create.

~ Kathy 

P.S. Emotional turmoil is often a signal of a misalignment with your values. Please don't try to shut your emotions off. Use them to find alignment! When you do that, you will be able to manage your emotions using them to be a better and happier leader.
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Start reading and start growing as a leader today!

​Ready to Lead with Confidence and Impact?

The nonprofit sector doesn't always give women leaders the support and training they deserve—but that's not your fault.  

I've been where you are, juggling leadership demands while trying to find balance and confidence. I created The Training Library to provide nonprofit leaders like you with practical, on-demand courses and personalized coaching, all within reach.  

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