Charity or Profit - Purpose Can Cost Us

Yesterday I had a really interesting chat with David Beuzeval, Charity Consultant, thanks to an introduction from the excellent Colette Harrison

We talked about his work supporting charity leaders with governance and change & how the organisational work interweaves so critically with the inner & personal, professional development work.

It was interesting for me to reflect across sectors, working with those in charity, public & increasingly commercial sectors, with this purpose-driven lens.

Also on a conversation I had a couple of years ago with another Coach whose background was in the city, and his belief that people in non-profits couldn't possibly experience stress or burnout.

I realised that the more I understand about leading in all these different contexts, the more I see the practical differences and mindset contrasts, but also the more that they're all the same. Same same but different.

It's easy for people to say that public sector workers clock off at 5 whatever - but I know that when I was in there, I did 80+ hrs every week for 4 years.

It's easy for people to say that when money's your only bottom line that people don't matter - but I talk to business leaders all the time who live for their people, but leave no space for themselves.

And it's easy for people to say that those in charities do it for the passion - but that passion drives so many into illness and a belief that pushing harder is the only way through.

In coaching we work with 'unconditional positive regard' and I wonder if more people really believed that everyone is doing their best, with the information they have, could it help us all to help ourselves & others?