Are you considering a shift?  Making the transition from your current position into the known or unknown requires time to pause, reflect, mull, discuss, and plan for stepping away.  Join a dynamic and confidential peer forum to explore this territory with other executives who may be looking towards a shift and gain some clarity about your succession plan.

Does the idea of doing something different pique your interest?  Are you wondering if now is the right time to move-on? Take time to think about what is next for you and what that means for your organization. This confidential group of executive directors will dive into the topics that are difficult to discuss in other arenas. 

This forum will be in the Augusta area or central to those registered.  Want us to bring it to your area?  Contact us. 

About the facilitators: Deb Burwell and Carol Carriuolo are partners in Paddling the Rapids.  They have over 40 years of combined experience championing nonprofit leaders and their organizations in Maine.  For more information go to   

Register now! 

Each session will be a combination of topic presentation, discussion, reflection, planning, peer consultations, and resource exchange 

• Session 1 & 2: Imagining a positive future, Focusing on legacy, identifying what is next for you, and what makes good timing
• Session 3: Bringing the announcement to your board - how, when, what next
• Session 4: Preparing staff, organization, and community for transition and change, living in the neutral zone, using the Executive Transition Management model 
• Session 5: Stepping away with grace and integrity, planning for a good ending AND a good beginning 

DARING TO LEAD, 2011 

More than 3,000 executive directors in 11 regions throughout the U.S. completed the online survey for Daring to Lead 2011, making it the largest study of executive directors conducted to date. The survey asked executives about their career paths, likely tenure, partnership with the board of directors, and the impact of the recession on their organizations.  

The percentage of respondents who said they were leaving their job within five years-67%-was somewhat lower than the 75% who said they planned to leave within five years in both previous studies, with executives' responses suggesting that the recession may have temporarily slowed executive departures. Nevertheless, a large majority of respondents continue to anticipate their departure within five years, making executive turnover and transition an ongoing concern for nonprofits, their boards, and other stakeholders.

The complete 20-page report can be downloaded at www.daringtolead.org. Three briefs-Leading Through a Recession, Inside the Executive Director Job, and The Board Paradox-report additional findings. The interactive Daring to Lead website includes information about methodology, executive director demographics, and additional data.

From the report - does this describe your organization?

" Despite 15 years of attention to the issue, a number of key practices associated with effective executive transition are not widespread. Executives and boards are still reluctant to talk proactively about succession and just 17% of organizations have a documented succession plan. Even more problematic is the extent to which many boards are unfamiliar with the dimensions of their executives' roles and responsibilities. Just 33% of executives were very confident that their boards will hire the right successor when they leave."