Hint: It might not be your Board or your budget this time.

Hey Nonprofit Leader, What’s Keeping You Awake at Night?

I recently met with a friend who’s an Executive Director of a mid-sized nonprofit. The moment she sat down, she let out a full-body sigh. You know the kind.

I started my usual guessing game:“Is it your Board?”No.“Your year-end appeal?”Nope.“That big grant decision?”Still no.

“So what’s going on?”

She finally said it: “It’s my management team.”

Wait . . . the team you said was one of the strongest you’ve ever worked with?

“Well, yes,” she explained. “Individually, they’re fantastic. Together? Not so much.”

Uh-oh. I knew exactly where this was heading.

When Great People Don’t Play So Great Together

One example:

The Operations Manager questions every single expense from the Program Director. Reimbursement forms must be completed exactly his way—no deviations allowed. Anything related to chamber mixers or networking events? Instant rejection. In his mind, those events are a waste of time and money.

Then there’s the Volunteer Coordinator. She’s laser-focused on recruiting the massive volunteer army their mission needs—but her ultra-direct communication style sometimes lands more like a bulldozer than a pep talk. Volunteers end up feeling pushed, not inspired.

So what’s the problem here?

It’s not competence. It’s perception.

Conflict Isn’t the Enemy—Misunderstanding Is

Conflict shows up everywhere: at home, at work, with coworkers, family, and even strangers in the grocery store checkout line. It can pop up over tiny misunderstandings or simmer beneath the surface for years.

We tend to label conflict as “bad” or something to avoid—but really, it’s just part of being human. The real issue isn’t conflict itself.It’s how we perceive it—and how we respond.

That’s where Perceptual Style™  comes in.

As both a nonprofit consultant and a certified Perceptual Style coach, I help individuals and teams uncover how they naturally react under stress, tension, and disagreement—and how wildly different those reactions can be from one person to the next.

When people understand their Perceptual Style (and the styles of those around them), something magical happens:

Instead of getting stuck in conflict, they learn to navigate it—with clarity, empathy, and confidence.

Conflict Can Actually Be a Good Thing

When conflict is handled with awareness and intention, it can become a powerful pathway for growth. Instead of creating division, it brings clarity and understanding, helping people see different perspectives and uncover what’s truly at stake beneath the surface tension. Thoughtful, respectful conversations strengthen relationships by building trust rather than eroding it. Honest disagreement often leads to creative breakthroughs, opening the door to fresh ideas and new ways forward that wouldn’t surface without a bit of friction. And on a personal level, facing conflict head-on fosters resilience, emotional maturity, and deeper self-awareness—each uncomfortable moment becoming an opportunity to grow instead of retreat.

So, What Is Perceptual Style™?

Each of the six Perceptual Styles comes with its own strengths, communication habits, and conflict responses. No style is “better”—they’re just different.

Understanding your Perceptual Style™ helps you recognize your natural strengths when it comes to resolving conflict, while also giving you insight into how others experience disagreements from their own perspectives. This deeper understanding allows you to communicate with greater empathy and adaptability, building relationships that remain strong and respectful—even when tensions run high or conversations become challenging.

In short: Knowing your Perceptual Style™ gives you a huge advantage in navigating difficult conversations without blowing up—or shutting down.

What the Assessment Can Do

The Perceptual Style™ Assessment reveals how you naturally respond when stress rises, your ideas are challenged, or tension enters the room. It shines a light on your instinctive reactions in those high-pressure moments—often the ones that shape conversations and relationships more than we realize. With that awareness, you begin to respond with confidence instead of defensiveness, turning uncomfortable interactions into genuine dialogue rather than standoffs. Over time, this leads to stronger connections and deeper trust, even in the toughest situations when communication matters most.

And honestly? Great teamwork is less about technical skills and more about how we communicate, collaborate, and solve problems together.

Perceptual Style™ directly influences how people communicate, shaping how ideas are expressed, interpreted, and understood. It also impacts decision-making by guiding how individuals approach problems, weigh options, and move toward solutions. And it affects action styles—determining how teams organize themselves, take initiative, and ultimately get things done together. Understanding these dynamics helps teams collaborate more effectively, with fewer misunderstandings and greater alignment. When teams understand each other’s styles, they don’t just cooperate—they thrive with more trust, efficiency, and mutual respect.

Why Learn Your Style?

Learning your Perceptual Style™ is simple—even though there’s solid science behind it—and it can be surprisingly empowering. It helps you recognize and validate your natural strengths, freeing you from the pressure of trying to be someone you’re not. Along the way, you’ll uncover abilities you may not have realized you had, opening the door to new growth and confidence.

As you begin using Perceptual Style™ in your everyday life, you’ll notice its impact in meaningful areas: your sense of personal empowerment grows, your leadership becomes more authentic, and your ability to build effective teams strengthens. You become more adaptable in the face of change, more skilled at navigating conflict, and more persuasive and influential in your communication. Perhaps most importantly, you gain a deeper well of self-motivation, fueled by a clearer understanding of who you are and how you naturally operate.

Ready to Learn Your Style?

You were born with natural strengths designed to help you shine. The Perceptual Style™ Assessment is a proven tool that helps identify those strengths so you can use them with intention—in your leadership, communication, and relationships.

I offer assessments and workshops both virtually and in person, and they’re far more accessible than most people expect.

Final Thought

When your team learns how to communicate instead of collide . . .When understanding replaces tension . . . When personalities start working with each other instead of against each other.

Everyone in the organization sleeps a little better at night.

Curious to learn more? Reach out—I’d love to help your team turn conflict into collaboration.