Life & Leadership with Kim Williams

Everyone wants to lead . . . until they have to lead. Leadership is not for the faint of heart. There is a critic and counterpoint for every choice that you make. There is an opposing opinion for decision. There are risks associated with every strategy and new stressors that come with every success. Sure, perks, privileges, and good pay that come with promotion. But, every lead...

Happy New Year everyone! I am so excited to be back in my office recording podcasts. I can’t believe that this is my 23 episodes. I have really enjoyed sharing my leadership journey with you and I’ve been so appreciative of your support and feedback. I am honored that you would listen and join me for discussions on life and leadership. Your questions have inspired the theme for...

Have you ever pondered why things have been feeling off at the office? Have you felt like things were out of rhythm and you didn’t feel that your team was productive as it could or should be?  Have wondered what the problem is?  Asked others and asked yourself, only to realize that the problem is you.   Let's talk about it.

Contrary to popular employee belief, most leaders are not sitting in their offices dreaming of ways to make your life difficult. We don’t prefer to do things the long way. We don’t enjoy the time we spend writing policy, creating guidelines, or giving instructions and we certainly get no thrill out of disciplinary conversations. We just want to get things done as quickly, efficiently, and effectiv...

It is the responsibility of the nonprofit organization or social enterprise to provides a path to the fulfillment of its mission in a manner that is appealing to the client, aligned with their goals for themselves, and accountability-driven to help increase the likelihood of reaching the goals. So, where do you begin? Let's talk about it in today's episode.

Last week, Kim shared the story of how Interfaith Family Services narrowed our target demographic from homeless families to working class single moms who are experiencing homelessness.  Then, she provided tips for how you can define and refine your target demographic. This week, Kim talks about understanding the needs and nuances of your target demographic in order to create an organizational...

“You’re doing too much.” That’s one of the most common discoveries of the agency analysis that I provide for nonprofits. Far too many, well-meaning organizations are spreading their staff and budgets too thin by attempting to have a Cheese-Cake Factory like menu of services that offer a lot of variety but very little impact.  In this episode, Kim shares the danger of not refining your target...

Anyone who says that a nonprofit CEO or a CEO of any kind for that matter should have an “open door policy” has never been a CEO. You can be accessible without an open door but, it’s hard to be productive with one. In this episode, Kim Williams shares how. 

Wow! Can you believe that we've completed the first season? I can't believe I've recorded 16 episodes! As I prepare for the next set of episodes, I'm taking a little break.  But, I'll be back in September with some new episodes and a few surprises! 

In today's complex work environment, how do you create a culture that accounts for all of the needs and nuances of today's workforce? In this week's episode, Kim discusses the challenges she faced earlier in her career understanding the needs of her employees and the revelation that changed her organization's culture for the better. 

Roughly 85% of the nonprofit leaders that I know have been blind-sided by a disgruntled staff's complaint to the board. In this episode, we talk about why it happens and what to do when it does. 

I knew that something had to change. My board and fellow leaders recommended spending more time with team building and bonding and I tried. But, it simply made my already crowded plate more crowded and my frustration was growing into resentment.  Then, taking some time off for much prayer and reflection, I realized where I’d made my mistake. I didn’t need to work harder. I needed to work smar...

My performance-based value system pushed me into promotions in the first half of my career. But, it almost become my undoing in the second half. As a young professional, my ability to execute under the toughest of circumstances helped me to avoid the need to make significant adjustments to my leadership style. However, my first three years at Interfaith demanded that I change. I discuss this...

For years, I did not have an effective strategy for hiring employees. I looked at what their resume said and the requirements of the job to determine if I should interview them. Then, I listened to their words and references to make the final decision. It wasn’t until years into my tenure that I began to be more strategic and I began to hire people based not only on the competencies that...

One of the things I enjoy doing at least once per month is answering a listener question. I recently came across this one from a new leader that I thought would be a great one for the podcast.  A new leader asked, “As a new leader who inherited an organization full of employees, how can I determine who is loyal to me and who is not?” What a great question and I can’t wait to talk about it!

Kim answers a listener's question, “ How can you keep your team engaged when your organization is growing rapidly, and you can’t be on the front lines with them like you were when you began the organization? ” If you or a leader you know is experiencing growing pains, you do not want to miss this episode. 

Have you ever been inspired and excited about a new career journey? You prayed, researched, did the work, and got confirmation. You were so excited to get started and you finally launched. Things were good for a while. Then, things got real. There was issue after issue and before you know it, you were wondering if maybe you weren't supposed to do this after all. Well, Kim's been there and she has...

In this episode, Kim talks about the uncertainty and insecurity that accompanies life as a new CEO and the benefit of using silence as a protection mechanism as you wait on your self-esteem to catch up to your success.

In episode 7, Kim discusses the challenges facing nonprofits in this new season of economic uncertainty. Times are changing and the way nonprofit CEOs face the annual budget process needs to change with it. Kim dives into some of the issues that we will face in the season ahead and how to prepare to succeed despite them.

In episode 6 of Life & Leadership with Kim Williams, Kim explores the relationship between self-esteem and successful leadership. She talks about how insecurity diminished her abilty to create the culture and build the team that she desired in her early years as CEO and how learning to love herself, empowered her to lead others. As always, she ends the episode with three practical strategies t...

Every nonprofit CEO dreams of securing six and seven figure donations. But, few are aware of the phenomenon known as "donor dependence" that can lead to real problems and even closure in the years following a significant donor investment.

In this episode, nonprofit fixer and CEO, Kim Williams shares her personal experiences with the crisis of sudden funding loss as well as the five steps she uses to help her clients transform crisis into a catalyst for success. If you are a nonprofit leader facing any type of significant challenge or crisis, you do not want to miss this informative and encouraging episode.

My guest, Lenita Dunlap, and I talk about “Battling Burnout.” We talk about the propensity of female leaders, particularly leaders of color, who give themselves fully to the work and expect little in return. We also share a light on what happens in the long-term when we do that.

Have you ever been so busy that your days, weeks, and months seem like a blur? You have a hard time remembering when you had a really good time and your body is starting to rebel with signs of anxiety? If you have, my guest, Tamara Williams, and I can definitely relate. We are going to share our struggles with anxiety and stress as well as our testimony and tips for overcoming.

Kim Williams, and special guest, LaVeeta Hamilton (CEO of Family Promise of Collin County) discuss the challenges and triumphs of their first year as nonprofit CEOs. They explore the issues associated with being a change-agent who disrupts the way the organization has historically operated and the response to those changes. Finally, they offer five tips for new change-agents who are stepping in th...