“Coaching is a huge piece around a succession, and it doesn’t have to be elaborate. It’s about having the right conversations with your people, developing others through direct coaching. And I think it’s becoming more and more important as a skill for nonprofit leaders.”

Frank Parsons

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy talks with Frank Parsons, principal consultant at Parsons consulting, where they provide leadership development, succession and executive recruiting services.

In this conversation, Frank shares his thoughts on how nonprofit organizations can stay the course even in times when their leadership is undergoing changes, Frank and Jeff discuss four core competencies that are important to look for in nonprofit leaders, and Frank shares stories around leadership hiring. The discussion answer questions including:

• Why is it important for organizations to have a succession plan and leadership development strategy?
• Is it better for an organization to fill leadership positions from within?
• What qualities should an organization look for when hiring for leadership positions?

About our guest

Frank Parsons brings more than 30 years of corporate management and leadership to the needs of his executive clients. As a graduate of Thunderbird School of Global Management, he joined Baker Hughes Inc. as a management trainee in 1978. Frank held increasingly responsible positions in marketing and human resources, spending the first seven years in operating offices around the world including three and half years in Singapore.  

In 1987, Frank was asked to help manage the transition of the merger between Baker International and Hughes Oil Tools and ran a career resource center, which served as his introduction into coaching managers and leaders and his strong interest in organizational consulting. He went on to become vice president of human resources for three separate divisions of Baker Hughes, including two start-ups in the performance-drilling arena. 

In 1994, Frank established his own organizational consulting practice, working with over 500 organizations to date in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. His expertise ranges from the start-up of high technology businesses to executive team building and facilitating organizational transition to ensure continued productivity during times of change. 

Frank joined the Center for Nonprofit Management in Nashville in 1995 as an adjunct consultant, and over 80% of his practice is working with nonprofit organizations nationally and in Middle Tennessee. His focus in the nonprofit sector has been in executive searches, succession planning, leadership development and human resource management.

Connect with Frank on LinkedIn.