How to Lead When Life Is Unraveling Around You

What happens when you’re responsible for holding a nonprofit organization together while your personal life is falling apart? In this episode, Rob Harter sits down with Ashley Stallings to have an honest conversation about nonprofit leadership, burnout, vulnerability, and what it takes to lead sustainably through seasons of personal crisis.

Ashley shares her own experience of navigating the end of a 19-year marriage, becoming a single mom, and leading an organization that was barely hanging on—all at the same time. She explains the warning signs she missed, why asking for help can be so difficult for leaders, and how a strong support system ultimately helped her recover. Rob and Ashley also explore practical ways nonprofit leaders and boards can build healthier organizational structures, create psychological safety, establish boundaries, and prepare for difficult seasons before a crisis occurs.

Key Topics Include:

Recognizing the early warning signs that a nonprofit leader may be approaching burnout or a breaking point

How tying your identity and self-worth too closely to your organization’s mission can push you beyond healthy limits

Why nonprofit leaders often struggle to ask for help and the importance of building a support network before you need it

Finding the right balance between healthy vulnerability and oversharing with staff and board members

How boards, second-in-command leaders, and succession plans can reduce the pressure placed on executive directors

Establishing healthy boundaries and learning why saying “no” can protect both the leader and the organization’s mission

Creating sustainable leadership practices that allow nonprofit leaders and their teams to stay healthy for the long haul

Mentioned in This Episode:

Learn more about Ashley Stallings, her speaking, and nonprofit consulting: AudiblyAshley.com