Show Notes
When do you ignore the red flags your body, brain, and intuition are screaming at you—and what does that cost your leadership? In this episode, learn how to stop outsourcing trust and start making calm, confident decisions rooted in your own inner knowing.
Key Takeaways:
Self-betrayal rarely comes from a lack of information; it comes from overriding what your body, observations, and intuition are already telling you. Instinct, intellect, and intuition are three distinct but complementary information systems, and wise leadership means giving each a “seat at the table.” External pressures—from family, boards, donors, or cultural conditioning—often masquerade as wisdom but are usually fear dressed up as good advice. Many leadership mistakes happen when trust is outsourced to boards, consultants, or “important” stakeholders instead of starting with the question, “What do I know?” True freedom is not about avoiding hurt; it’s about becoming someone who no longer abandons themselves in order to avoid discomfort or disappointment.
"You can have every signal, every red flag, every fact, every intuitive knowing, and still betray yourself."
"Our goal is to become people who never have to abandon themselves in order to avoid getting hurt."
"Because when you trust yourself, you don't have to know how the story ends. You simply have to know that you'll stay with yourself through every chapter."
- Maryanne Dersch
Let’s Work Together to Amplify Your Leadership + Influence
1. Group Coaching for Nonprofit Leaders
Want to lead with more clarity, confidence, and influence? My group coaching program is designed for nonprofit leaders who are ready to communicate more powerfully, navigate challenges with ease, and move their organizations forward.
2. Team Coaching + Training
I work hands-on with nonprofit teams to strengthen leadership, improve communication, and align around a shared vision. Whether you’re growing fast or feeling stuck, we’ll create more clarity, collaboration, and momentum—together.
3. Board Retreats + Trainings
Your board has big potential. I’ll help you unlock it. My engaging, no-fluff retreats and trainings are built to energize your board, refocus on what matters, and generate real results.
Get your free starter kit today at www.theinfluentialnonprofit.com
Connect with Maryanne about her coaching programs:
https://www.courageouscommunication.com/connect
Book Maryanne to speak at your conference:
https://www.courageouscommunication.com/nonprofit-keynote-speaker
More from The Influential Nonprofit
When a donor goes quiet, should you follow up—or let go? This episode explores how to tell the difference between trust, control, and avoidance, and how to act without trying to control someone else’s choice.
Burnout isn’t a badge of effective leadership—and rest doesn’t have to mean stepping away for weeks. This conversation explores practical ways to delegate, challenge assumptions, and help teams navigate change with greater care.
Why do people say yes or pull away even when the choice seems logical? Explore how trust, safety, autonomy, and the freedom to say no shape meaningful decisions.
Running a nonprofit can be lonely, and your board of directors may never think about your growth as a leader. In this episode, Allison Wyatt explains how to build a personal "circle of champions," so you always have someone to call when things get hard.
At 60, Maryanne discovered her hair had been naturally wavy all along — she'd just never created the conditions for it to show. In this solo episode, she turns that surprise into a fundraising lesson: your next donor, partner, and big idea are probably already in your orbit, waiting to be activated.