My Odyssey

Checkpoint.

What difference did I make along the journey?

By leading the Board and staff through

difficult decisions and changes in work,

the burn rate was reduced

by 70% within 12 mos. –

and Odyssey Family Counseling Center

still serves the community today!

Lesson Three:

Both/And

Change is HARD -

even with high EQ therapists

among the ranks and even when

there is no choice but to evolve!

Consensus-building

is a complex and rewarding effort.

However, there are also times that call

for a decisive or managerial style

when driving change.

Lesson Two:

Transparency.

Odyssey

The CEO struggled to regain

the trust of the Board and staff.

Trust is critical to teamwork.

Forthright communication is

a hallmark of a high functioning team.

Lesson One:

High Support. High Expectations.

The Board had not been engaged at the right level.

We weren’t asking the right questions.

We weren’t offering the right leadership.

A different tone and relationship with the CEO

might have helped her feel that she

didn’t have to solve problems alone.

The journey "drove home"

leadership lessons

along the way.

Leadership Journey

As new Board Chair,

I was responsible for addressing significant

business model, facility, leadership,

staffing and morale issues.

Starting point.

Our 20-person Board was surprised by

our counseling center’s

$50K/mo. deficit (25% shortfall) and

dwindling financial reserve.