Have you ever had a staff member who seemed great on paper, or even had moments of brilliance, but behind the scenes, their toxic behavior slowly drained the energy out of your whole team?

Maybe you found yourself thinking, “If I just give them one more chance, maybe this time it will stick.”

Today, we’re exploring what happens when those second, third, and fourth chances start working against you.

Because sometimes, the real damage isn’t just in what the employee does, it’s in the ripple effect their behavior has on everyone else.

People call in sick. Morale tanks. The culture you’ve worked so hard to build starts to quietly erode.

In this episode, I’ll share the story of Claire, a healthcare nonprofit leader, whose year-long struggle with one employee pushed her staff to the breaking point.

It’s a story full of drama, fallout, and ultimately relief, and it might sound eerily familiar. We've all been there, right?

If you’ve ever wrestled with the tension between being kind and being firm, this story could shift everything.

And thanks to Disney, I’ll give you a reframe that can help you feel better when it’s time to let someone go.

Marcia Beckner helps nonprofit executives lead with confidence and create healthy, thriving workplace cultures, especially during times of growth and change.

After nearly 20 years in the nonprofit and social impact sector, she’s seen far too many talented, hard-working leaders burn out and walk away. It doesn’t have to be this way. Nonprofit CEO SPARK is your invitation to pause, pivot, and reignite your energy so you can lead with clarity, courage, and balance.

Feeling exhausted and on the edge of burnout? Book a Burnout to Boundaries Strategy Session today and start reclaiming your time, energy, and joy.

Welcome back to Nonprofit CEO SPARK, the show that fuels your leadership, protects your energy, and helps you spark lasting change. I’m your host, Marcia Beckner.

Let me paint the picture.

You spend three hours writing a job posting. You list all the “must-haves,” cross your fingers, and wait.

--> Fifty-three applications land in your inbox.
--> Only two even kind of fit the bill.
--> You reach out to one, and they ghost you.
--> The other wants $30K more than you can offer.

Sound familiar?

One CEO recently told me, “I feel like I’m chasing people who don’t even want to work here.” And that stings especially when you know your mission matters.

So today, we are getting real about a leadership headache so many of you are facing:

Why it’s so dang hard to recruit and hire great staff right now, and what to do instead of just “posting and praying.”

Marcia Beckner helps nonprofit executives lead with confidence and create healthy, thriving workplace cultures, especially during times of growth and change.

After nearly 20 years in the nonprofit and social impact sector, she’s seen far too many talented, hard-working leaders burn out and walk away. It doesn’t have to be this way. Nonprofit CEO SPARK is your invitation to pause, pivot, and reignite your energy so you can lead with clarity, courage, and balance.

Feeling exhausted and on the edge of burnout? Book a Burnout to Boundaries Strategy Session today and start reclaiming your time, energy, and joy.

Go to CultureCARES.com.

Hey there, nonprofit leaders, and welcome back to Nonprofit CEO SPARK, the podcast that helps you fuel your leadership, protect your energy, and spark lasting change.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing behind-the-scenes lessons from a unique opportunity I had in 2024, stepping in as the Interim Executive Director of a thriving arts nonprofit in Denver.

This wasn’t my first rodeo, but it was my first time back in the ED seat since 2017, and wow, the experience gave me powerful tools and fresh perspective for anyone navigating nonprofit leadership transitions, burnout, or rebuilding staff morale.

Whether you're stepping into a new CEO or ED role, navigating a board relationship, or just trying to stop spinning out, you’re going to walk away from today with actionable tools and mindset shifts that will support you now and for the long haul.

Marcia Beckner helps nonprofit executives lead with confidence and create healthy, thriving workplace cultures, especially during times of growth and change.

After nearly 20 years in the nonprofit and social impact sector, she’s seen far too many talented, hard-working leaders burn out and walk away. It doesn’t have to be this way. Nonprofit CEO SPARK is your invitation to pause, pivot, and reignite your energy so you can lead with clarity, courage, and balance.

Feeling exhausted and on the edge of burnout? Book a Burnout to Boundaries Strategy Session today and start reclaiming your time, energy, and joy.

Go to CultureCARES.com.