I'm guilty of it - and I bet you are, too. Neglecting my own professional development, even while I preach the importance of training to others. Whether the challenge is priorities, costs, or just not enough hours in the day, I often find it hard to make time for training.

Those of us who work in organizations spend a lot of our time in meetings. They compete for time on our calendar. Sometimes the time is well spent. We leave the meeting energized with a clear sense of direction or new understanding. More often that not, the investment of our time and energy in a meeting is frittered away. The meeting is unproductive and we leave with our energy drained and our relationships frayed.

We think a lot about leadership at Third Space Studio: the kind of leadership that’s about mobilizing other people to tackle the tough challenges, the challenges that require our willingness to change our own mindsets and behaviors if we are to find a solution. We’ve noticed that there are lots of opportunities to learn about leadership from the experiences all around us.

In the last month, I’ve spoken with multiple nonprofit leaders who see a lot of uncertainty on the horizon and are feeling a bit paralyzed by it all. As I coach, converse, and commiserate, I’ve wanted to help them find a touchstone, something reliable in the midst of the unknown.