How to Retain Your Focus in a Crisis

The world has gone mad (or, so it seems).

Volatility. The world is continually changing and becoming more unstable each day.

Uncertainty. It’s becoming more challenging to anticipate events or predict how they’ll unfold.

Complexity. Problems and their repercussions are more multi-layered, harder to understand.

Ambiguity. Not everything is black and white.

The internet and other forms of media amplify and bring all of this VUCA to our attention more frequently than in the past. 

How will you deal with it?

• Have compassion for yourself and others - In other words, give yourself a break, and cut other folks some slack.
• Get curious about what's going on - Curiosity is the antidote to negative judgment and opens up possibility.
• Explore options - Doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result is a form of insanity.
• Conduct experiments - Test possible solutions.  What do you have to lose?
• Venture out of your comfort zone - You're already uncomfortable anyway, so what's the big deal?
• Take action - Nothing happens in the universe until something moves (Albert Einstein)

For each session the group accesses audio and video lessons, short readings, and practical exercises to get you out of theory and into practice. There are live video calls with expert trainers to debrief the materials and practice the skills you learn with other participants.

Session 1: Orientation and Designing the Program 

• You will meet your facilitators and design an alliance to set up the program powerfully.

Session 2: Three Essential Skills for Connection and Communication

• Curiosity, listening, and intuition are the three essential skills for connection and communication.   You will engage in exercises to hone those skills so you can apply them.

Session 3: Ending Gossip by Fostering a Culture of Integrity Candor, and Accountability

• Gossip is toxic, and it fuels the fires of VUCA.  It erodes trust and ruins relationships.  In this session, you will learn how integrity is among the essential factors for workability, and how you can care personally while challenging others directly.  You will also practice using powerful questions to create clarity and accountability that allows others to learn from their actions and increase their awareness, self-knowledge, capacity, and resilience.

Session 4: Encouraging Vulnerability and Dealing with Difficult Emotions 

• Being vulnerable in the face of VUCA takes courage.  Creating a space where others can be vulnerable and speak their unarguable truth about their experience is mastery. In this session, you will learn how to "be with" your own powerful emotions and encourage others to experience theirs.

Session 5: Providing Acknowledgement and Feedback.

• Creating an environment of appreciation, recognition, and gratitude in the face of VUCA goes a very long way toward calming the atmosphere. A culture of appreciation helps folks feel good about the work they are doing, even under stress. You will practice the art of championing colleagues while challenging them to go beyond what they think is possible in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world.

Session 6: Round Table and Completion

•  Tap into the wisdom of your facilitators and your fellow participants.  We will review the course content and lock in the learning to support results for you going forward.

David Langiulli is a certified professional coach (CPCC, PCC) who works with nonprofit executives to help them flourish and thrive. David's experience spans the university and corporate sectors for over three decades. Most recently he led a fundraising team at Princeton which consisted of 10 professionals responsible for $35 million in annual support to the University. Several thousand nonprofit leaders interested in self- development, leadership, and management follow David's blog on LinkedIn. He’s a graduate of the Coaching Training Insitute's Leadership and Coaching programs and holds master’s degrees in business and engineering, as well as an undergraduate degree in mathematics and physics-engineering. As a volunteer, David coaches youth classes at his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy and serves on the Board of Directors for the Collier-Lee Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Janice Cunning is a certified professional coach and facilitator who is passionate about partnering with fundraisers and teams to help them create an inspired vision that transforms lives. She was previously a Senior Consultant at KCI, Canada’s largest fundraising consulting firm. Janice earned a BA in History from Trent University, a Master of Library Science from the University of Toronto and completed CTI’s Leadership program. An active volunteer, Janice recently served as Vice President and Secretary for the International Coach Federation – Toronto Chapter.

Michelle Maloy Dillon is a certified executive coach and facilitator of experiential learning programs that help individuals, groups and organizations embrace change and consciously create their future. With over twenty years of entrepreneurial experience, she brings a playful and creative mindset to leadership development. Her most recent work involves facilitating leadership development and coaching for executives and front line leaders in the construction materials and banking industries. Michelle is a graduate of CTI’s Leadership program and holds a CPCC certification through the Coaches Training Institute and a PCC certification through the International Coaching Federation. As a volunteer, Michelle serves as a coach for The Coaching Fellowship, a non-profit dedicated to developing young women leaders.

This program was highly experiential.  The interactive learning style engaged everyone on our management team and drew out in-depth, relevant discussions that applied to every-day issues.  Michelle and David are dynamic and high-energy facilitators that created an environment of trust which encouraged and supported our team to be open and honest throughout the training session.  The program resulted in increased communication, accountability, and cohesion across our management team in addition to learning / refreshing leadership skills.