Episode 06: The Inner Work Nonprofit Leaders Avoid and How it Impacts their Teams

Episode Overview What happens when a leader becomes so focused on one problem that they stop listening to the people around them? In this episode of The Crosswind Approach, Michael Baldree, CPA and founder of Crosswind CFO Advisory, shares the story of United Airlines Flight 173 and the leadership lessons that emerged from a tragic accident caused by a breakdown in communication and self-awareness. He connects that story to one of the most overlooked aspects of nonprofit leadership: understanding how your leadership identity impacts the people you lead. Michael is joined by Dr. Natalie Pickering, organizational psychologist, executive coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Leading Becomes You: A Real World Framework for Leading from the Inside Out. Together, they explore the connection between leadership identity, team trust, psychological safety, burnout, and organizational performance. If you are a nonprofit leader who wants to improve your leadership effectiveness, strengthen team culture, and better understand how your leadership impacts others, this episode will challenge you to do the inner work that creates lasting organizational impact. Key Takeaways Leadership identity shapes leadership effectiveness Self-awareness is a critical leadership skill Burnout is often connected to internal leadership conflict Trust and psychological safety start with the leader Feedback is essential for leadership growth Authentic leadership creates stronger teams Leadership development is more than competencies Growth requires ongoing self-reflection and awareness Crosswind Checklist 1. Diversify your nonprofit's revenue sources 2. Review your Form 990 regularly for accuracy and completeness 3. Provide your board with strategic financial dashboards instead of detailed accounting reports Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to The Crosswind Approach and podcast overview 01:35 – The aviation story: United Airlines Flight 173 03:46 – Leadership self-awareness and the lessons from aviation 05:56 – Introduction to Dr. Natalie Pickering 08:15 – How leadership impacts employee well-being 10:36 – Why leadership identity matters more than competencies 13:01 – The cost of leading from an inauthentic version of yourself 15:23 – Understanding your inner leadership terrain 17:50 – The swamp: low identity clarity and low connection 20:13 – How the swamp impacts teams and trust 22:37 – The wasteland: losing connection to yourself 25:13 – The petrified forest: high certainty and low feedback 29:56 – How organizations reinforce unhealthy leadership patterns 32:14 – Diagnosing your leadership terrain 34:18 – The flourishing meadow and authentic leadership 39:02 – Why identity-first leadership matters 41:22 – The Four A's framework for leadership growth 43:41 – A real-world leadership transformation story 48:18 – The impact of leadership growth on teams 50:45 – Is the inner work worth it? 53:09 – Why flourishing is a lifelong leadership journey 55:34 – Practical first steps toward leadership growth 57:52 – Crosswind Checklist: nonprofit financial best practices 59:15 – Final thoughts and closing remarks Connect: 🔗 Connect with Michael on LinkedIn:   / michaelbaldree   🔗 Connect with Dr. Natalie Pickering: LinkedIn:   / drnataliepickering   Website: https://www.doctornataliepickering.com Get the book: Leading Becomes You: A Real World Framework for Leading from the Inside Out https://drnataliepickering.com/book/ Subscribe and Share If you found this episode helpful: 👉 Follow The Crosswind Approach so you don’t miss future episodes 👉 Share it with another nonprofit or mission-driven leader 👉 Leave a quick review to help others discover the show