The Top 10 Mistakes New Leaders Make (and How to Avoid Them)

In many nonprofits, great employees are promoted into leadership roles because they're strong performers, but leading people requires an entirely different skill set. Without support or training, new leaders often find themselves overwhelmed, unsure how to manage former peers, and struggling to balance relationships with accountability.

This session is a practical "crash course" for new and emerging leaders. Built around the 10 most common mistakes new managers make, participants will gain simple, actionable strategies to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and effectiveness. Through real-world examples and interactive reflection, attendees will learn how to set expectations, give feedback, navigate difficult conversations, and build trust with their teams, without losing themselves in the process. Participants will leave with tools they can immediately apply to avoid common pitfalls, strengthen team relationships, and grow into confident, capable leaders.