I was working at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina when an email from HR was sent around to managers offering free coaching sessions through the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits Pro Bono Coaching Program. I didn’t know a lot about leadership coaching, but I responded immediately. I had just been promoted, my team more than doubled in size, and there were some leadership challenges I was having trouble navigating. I needed support.

Just a couple weeks later I had my first coaching session. We covered a lot in that first meeting, and in subsequent sessions dug in even deeper. After the initial pro bono period, I requested approval for ongoing coaching as professional development.  

My coach worked with me on challenges I was facing in both managing up and down and helped me build resilience to trust myself and my decisions. I gained more self-awareness, strengthened my communications skills, and was able to better align and focus on my goals.

I can honestly say it altered the trajectory of my career, both during my time at the Food Bank and beyond.

Now, as a senior advisor with Armstrong McGuire, I provide coaching to our clients. I love working with nonprofit professionals to understand what their goals and challenges are and ask questions to help them craft the type of leader they want to be.

Leadership coaching is an investment in professional and personal development that everyone should have the opportunity to experience. There are lots of natural born leaders out there. All the rest of us can do is "try, try, try."

Speaking of trying, this past weekend I ran the City of Oaks half marathon with my husband and brother-in-law. It was a picture-perfect fall morning and despite Raleigh’s one million hills and spraining my ankle a few weeks ago it was one of my best half marathons yet. I am still accepting high fives!

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Sam Wright is a Senior Advisor with Armstrong McGuire who specializes in coaching, talent acquisition, resource development, and data analysis and research. Learn more about Sam in her bio. Check out our recent video on Coaching and Staff Development.

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