Coaching for nonprofit leaders & managers

How to be a
Good Boss

If more workplaces had healthy bosses, there would be more healthy workplaces.

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Portrait of Lori Swarner

What I do

One-on-one coaching and consulting with nonprofit leaders and managers, helping them successfully navigate the people-side of leadership.

Why I want to help

When a leader is struggling with their team, they're often carrying things like:

  • Frustration they can't say out loud
  • Uncertainty about whether they're handling something wrong
  • Relational dynamics they don't know how to untangle
  • Fear of making things worse

Executives, mid-level managers, or team leaders — if this is your experience, let's sit down together. Tell me what's going on. I want to listen. Then we'll build solutions that are created just for you.

How we'll work together

Listening and strategy sessions tailored for your team or organization.

Assessments

  • About You
  • About Your Bosses (current and former)
  • About Your Team
  • About Your Challenges

Culture

Building a collaborative, trusting team.

Communication

Listening with compassion and responding with clarity.

Operations

Defining work, setting priorities, working in timelines.

Peer Relationships

Vertical, horizontal, nemeses, allies.

When Things Get Off Track

Underperformers, low morale, burnout, collaboration that turns competitive.

Self-Care

Boundaries & downtime.

Building Leaders & Successors

Investing, mentoring, planning for the future.

Leading Through Change

Surviving a reorg, new boss, new team.

Implementing the Plan

Best practices, accountability, evaluation.

What clients are saying

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Working with Lori helped me see the patterns I had been missing for years. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua."

— Executive Director, Nonprofit

"Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation. Lori has a rare gift for listening between the lines and asking the question I didn't know I needed."

— Senior Manager

"Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit. The work I did with Lori changed how I show up for my team every single day. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident."

— Team Leader
Portrait of Lori Swarner

About Lori

As principal of Swarner Associates, LLC, Lori Swarner's professional career spans 40 years as a communications director, mentor, organizational strategist, and team builder — in both nonprofit and corporate settings.

Let's talk

Tell me what's going on. I want to listen.