As planning season kicks into gear, I’m sharing one powerful question that every nonprofit leader should ask before setting next year’s goals. It’s a short episode, but it goes deep — because how you approach planning is just as important as what ends up in your plan. If you’ve been feeling stuck in survival mode, quietly absorbing the pressure of growth, or running on grit instead of clarity, this episode is for you.

I walk through the subtle but critical difference between bracing and leading — and how that distinction can reshape your strategy, systems, and capacity going into the new year.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The difference between “bracing” through growth and leading through it
• How to spot signs of burnout-inducing systems (or lack thereof)
• Key mindset shifts for designing a sustainable organization

Key Takeaways:

1. Bracing means absorbing pressure and defaulting to overwork; leading means designing systems to carry the weight.
2. If you’re bracing, your team is too — your operating style sets the tone.
3. You can’t grow beyond the strength of your organizational design.

Reflection Prompts (Step-by-Step Planning Prep):

Ask yourself these questions as you design your goals and work plan:

1. What am I tolerating or carrying that a system could solve?
   → Identify where your energy is patching holes that systems should fix.
2. Where am I overworking to compensate for a weak container?
   → Look for signs you're doing more because your structure does less.
3. What did I ‘white-knuckle’ this year?
   → Pinpoint where urgency, not strategy, drove your decision-making.
4. What part of the organization feels fragile or heavy?
   → That’s your signal for a design upgrade.
5. If I stepped into the role of architect instead of operator, what would change?
   → Envision what would shift if you led through structure, not scramble.

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations that are ready to install a powerful nonprofit Operating System to sustain impact at scale.

Budget under $800K? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board!

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