The past year has been busy! From March 2024 to March 2025, I have worked with 27 clients on projects ranging from visioning, executive transition, capital campaign feasibility, to strategic planning. As a result, I have spoken with executive leaders, staff, board, volunteers, partners, community leaders, and committee members on their behalf.  

Driven by curiosity, I decided to delve into my Calendly account—a true lifesaver over the past eight years—to see just how many meetings have been scheduled with me. I can’t decide if I was shocked or felt the number coming, but I had 498 interactions scheduled over the past year. In addition, there were committee meetings and town hall listening sessions that did not go through my beloved Calendly. There were A LOT of conversations over the last 12 months!

What set the past year apart for me was being able to work with amazing clients who were brave enough to ask hard questions. They wanted honest feedback to set their path forward. They also valued and desired to hear from a variety of different viewpoints.  

As a result, leadership had to come to terms with the fact that it's impossible to make everyone happy. The essential question then is: What are your goals, and which perspectives will help you achieve them?

These organizations were all different in terms of mission, footprint, industry, etc. However, there were significant, overarching themes that ran across each community.

• People sought a sense of community, connection, and belonging.  

• Individuals were eager to drive change and contribute to something larger than themselves.  

• There was a strong desire to meet others where they are and foster genuine relationships.  

• People want to live into a set of values with others.

• There was a clear demand for transparency and a deeper understanding of the “why” behind decisions, changes, and so forth.

Given all that has happened in the past year, the division and divisiveness that exists in our world, these themes give me peace and hope. I have always believed in the power of nonprofits and communities to effect change and close gaps. That is more important today than ever before.

I'll be honest, there were times when we gathered so much information that it became overwhelming. If the purpose of feedback is to bring clarity, then I must question why I inundated leadership and committees with such an abundance of data.  

The truth is that if you seek feedback from a variety of viewpoints, then you must share the diversity of the feedback. If your community takes the time to speak into your listening process, then they need to see their voice represented in the feedback. This is even more important if they are not part of the majority. By representing all points of view and understanding the nuances, we can chart a path forward even if we might not agree on pieces or parts.  

So, if you're trying to determine your next steps, start by identifying your key questions and determining who can provide the answers.

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Mendi Nieters is a Senior Advisor with Armstrong McGuire who specializes in strategic planning, fund development, and leadership development. Learn more about Mendi and check out her other musings in her bio.