About this Event
Description
Managing staff is a significant part of a nonprofit manager's role, and it requires different approaches for different people and situations. Managers need to know when to provide direction, when to step back, when to recognize or give feedback, when to coach, and when an issue needs to be addressed directly. Doing this effectively supports staff development and retention while helping organizations make the most of their people and resources.
The Work of Managing People is a three-part, in-person series focused on the practical work of managing staff. Participants will strengthen their ability to assess what an employee or situation requires and respond effectively, whether that means providing recognition or feedback, setting clearer expectations, offering support or direction, coaching for development, or addressing a performance issue directly.
The series is highly participatory, using real management situations, individual reflection, interactive polling, peer discussion, case-based problem solving, and conversation practice. Participants will apply specific approaches with their own staff between sessions and bring those experiences back to the group.
Objective
The series will equip participants to assess management situations, determine the appropriate response, and apply practical approaches to communication, recognition, feedback, coaching, and accountability.
- Identify and articulate their own management expectations, communication needs, and working practices with staff.
- Establish and use a consistent approach to 1:1 meetings that addresses priorities, support, feedback, recognition, and emerging issues.
- Assess management situations and determine when an employee needs recognition or feedback, greater clarity or direction, support, coaching, or accountability.
- Apply coaching techniques that strengthen employee problem-solving, judgment, and capability.
- Address performance gaps directly by clarifying expectations, identifying what needs to change, and establishing follow-through.
- Evaluate and adjust their own management approach when their habits or responses are contributing to a management challenge.
Audience
Nonprofit managers, supervisors, directors, and other leaders who currently supervise staff. The series is appropriate for both new and experienced people managers.
Three-Part Structure
Session 1 | Managing: Building the Foundation
Effective management starts with knowing yourself as a manager, understanding your staff, and being clear about how you will work together. Participants will examine their own management habits and expectations, identify what they need from staff and what staff should expect from them, and strengthen the day-to-day practices that support effective management.
Topics include manager self-awareness, shared working expectations, communication, 1:1s, recognition and feedback, and identifying what employees need from their manager.
Session 2 | Coaching: Building Capability and Performance
Managers need to know when to provide direction and when to help an employee think through a challenge independently. Participants will learn when coaching is the appropriate management response and practice approaches that help staff think through challenges, strengthen judgment, solve problems, and build capability.
Topics include coaching versus directing, asking effective questions, listening, feedback and reinforcement, supporting problem-solving, and recognizing when a situation requires something other than coaching.
Session 3 | Accountability: Addressing Performance and Following Through
Commitment to the mission, effort, and strong workplace relationships can sometimes make performance concerns harder to recognize and managers still have a responsibility to establish clear expectations, identify when they are not being met, and address concerns fairly and directly.
Participants will learn to distinguish among issues of clarity, capability, capacity, behavior, and performance. They will practice addressing unmet expectations, hearing the employee's perspective, clarifying what needs to change, establishing follow-through, and determining appropriate next steps when performance does not improve.
Learning Approach
Each 2.5-hour session combines short concept segments with active application through individual reflection, interactive polling, one-on-one and small-group discussion, real-world management cases, conversation practice, and peer feedback.
Participants will apply a specific management practice between sessions and bring their experience back to the group.
Across all three sessions, participants will return to one central question:
What does this employee need from me as their manager right now, and what makes me think that?
Photo & Video Release
By registering for this event, you acknowledge and consent that you and/or your guests may be photographed or recorded during the event. These images and videos may be used for promotional purposes, including but not limited to social media, websites, and marketing materials.
All Attendee Agreement
All attendees are expected to participate in this event in good faith and in alignment with the values of the SouthCoast Community Foundation, the hosting organization. While taking photos, videos, or recordings for personal use or to share your experience is generally welcome, content may not be misrepresented, manipulated, or used in any way that could harm the organization, its mission, its partners, or fellow attendees.
By attending this event, you affirm your commitment to respectful participation. All event content—whether shared in person or online—should be treated with care and integrity. Misuse of materials or behavior inconsistent with these expectations may result in removal from the event and limit future participation.
Event venue & nearby stays
SouthCoast Community Foundation, 350 Union Street, New Bedford, United States
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