Eighteen years ago, I took a leap of faith and founded Howard Consulting LLC. What a journey it has been!
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with many incredible nonprofits. And the work I’m doing now is the most fulfilling, fun, and impactful of my entire career.
Plus, because I’m so excited about this milestone, I’ve got something special for you—so be sure to read all the way to the end!
Why Nonprofits Need More Cohesive Teams…
For the past decade, I’ve focused on helping organizations build stronger businesses to achieve greater impacts. Through this journey, I’ve narrowed my focus to working specifically with nonprofit teams, helping them build a more cohesive team culture.
Why? I’ve seen firsthand that when nonprofits invest in building stronger, more cohesive teams, they unleash their potential to create even greater positive change in the world. I believe focusing on teams may be the most potent impact strategy there is.
Lessons from 18 Years…
After 18 years in business, I’ve learned a few more things. The most important lesson? Be authentically me.
When you own your own business, there’s constant pressure to succeed. It makes sense, right? No clients? No food on the table! I spent years reading business books, taking sales courses, and trying to follow the conventional wisdom of marketing my business. But it never quite felt right.
Then, I found a coach who gave me the best advice I’ve ever received: “Be yourself. Do it your way. It doesn’t work for you to do it someone else’s way.”
This simple yet profound advice was like a breath of fresh air. For some reason, I guess I was looking for “permission” to run my business in a way that feels authentically me.
The Real Linda Howard…
So, what does it mean to be authentically me? It means being real and letting prospective clients see the true Linda Howard. If it clicks, then we can work together. I believe in freedom, integrity, and authenticity. I value my independence, time for reflection, and real conversations.
On my website’s About page, you’ll now see the real me—the me who loves to be outdoors, lives in the country, and cherishes a magical sunset. My favorite after-work clothing item? A “Life Is Good” T-shirt. I choose the outdoorsy ones, and they make me smile every time I put one on because, well, life really is good, especially when I can relax outdoors at the end of the day.
What It’s Like to Work With Me…
When we work together, you can expect a relaxed, genuine environment. Whether we are in an in-person workshop, a retreat, or a virtual session, we focus first on helping folks feel connected and safe to participate in conversation. Without connection and conversation, team members rarely feel safe speaking up, trust is elusive, and it’s hard to get stuff done.
Over the last year, I’ve started working with teams for at least six to twelve months. Why? Because change takes time, and people need reinforcement and support. And while we may have a few quick wins from a session or two, I’ve seen it take months for real changes in behavior to show up on teams and even longer to build it into muscle memory so it becomes sustainable.
When I’ve worked with teams for at least six months, they begin to see more subtle behavior shifts begin to occur. It takes time for team members to feel safer, to feel ok about showing up as themselves, and to raise topics they’ve been holding in for too long. It takes time for habits to form and for people to build new ways of being and working. And it takes time to integrate these new ways into their workplace DNA and to make the learning stick.
During our time together, we collaborate to determine the right cadence of sessions, the right timing and frequency, and the best format for conversations to happen for your team. We might do a mix of in-person and virtual working sessions and workshops. We might hold a retreat in a place where you can sit on the floor and kick off your shoes.
You will likely learn things about yourself or your team that will help you feel more connected and more cohesive as a team. There might even be a bonus campfire night or another relaxing opportunity to connect on a deeper level if desired.
And no, we won’t be doing touchy-feely trust falls, but you might smile enough to make your cheeks hurt!
Is This the Right Fit for You?
When most of my clients take a look back at how things have changed since we began working together, it is often with a bit of surprise, often a smile, and nearly always a realization that they have been working together more easily, more naturally, and are finding more satisfaction every day.
A strong team culture is the cornerstone of any successful nonprofit. My goal is to help you build yours so that you can build on your team’s strengths and make an even bigger impact, whatever your mission.
I specialize in helping mid- to large-sized nonprofits build stronger, more cohesive teams, and I’m ready to help you make a lasting impact!
If this resonates with you and you’re ready to invest in your team’s culture, I’d love to get a conversation on our calendars!
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In case you missed them, here are a few past articles from my archives:
How to Make Training Stick – Just Like in the Olympics
Communication Breakdown? Key Questions to Ask Your Nonprofit Team
From Miscommunication to Collaboration: How to Bridge Communication Gaps and Build Stronger Teams
