Finding your way as executive director -- Succeeding in this big job -- What are the roles and responsibilities of an executive director? -- What is the difference between a leader and a manager? -- When should an executive director lead, manage, or support others? -- Developing as an executive director -- How does an executive director find the time for professional development, and what opportunities are available? -- What is an executive coach and how does an executive director find one? -- How does mentoring work for an executive director, and who makes a good mentor? --When the going gets really tough, how does an executive director stay inspired ? -- Finding balance in the role of executive director -- Why are executive directors so susceptible to burnout? -- How can I find balance as an executive director? -- How do I set boundaries on my work life so I still have a personal life? -- Where do I find the time to do everything an executive director has to do and prioritize all my tasks? -- How can an executive director delegate when everyone is already busy? -- Executive director as visionary -- Understanding nonprofit organizational culture -- What does organizational culture mean? -- How does understanding the organization's culture make the executive director more effective? -- How does an executive director determine what the organization's culture is? -- What are some strategies for changing or moving an organization's culture to where it needs to be in order to be successful? -- Creating and sustaining a vision -- What is a vision and why is it important? -- What are ways for an executive director to articulate and develop a shared organizational vision? -- Why is planning important to the vision process in a nonprofit, and what is the executive director's role in this process? -- If you're always in crisis or catch-up mode as an executive director, how do you find time to plan? -- Determining organizational effectiveness -- What does an effective nonprofit organization look like? -- How soon after starting should the executive director start to examine the organization's effectiveness? -- How does an executive director tie personal performance and effectiveness to that of the organization? -- What happens if the board and executive director determine the organization is no longer effective? -- Executive director as change agent -- Embracing a changing nonprofit environment -- Why is change synonymous with the identity of the nonprofit sector? -- How are the lines that have traditionally defined the business and nonprofit sectors changing? -- What are the new demands for accountability and measurable outcomes? -- Understanding changing life cycle stages in nonprofits -- What life cycle stage is my organization in? -- What skills does an executive director need in each stage? -- Leading organizational change -- How can executive directors help their nonprofits embrace a healthy change process? -- What is the executive director's role and that of the board, other staff, and volunteers in a change process? -- How soon after a new executive director is hired should a change process begin?