Client Overview

This North Central Ohio-based nonprofit service organization supports community impact with a small but dedicated team of fewer than 50 employees. As the organization navigated a period of change, it became clear that leadership development was critical to strengthening culture, boosting engagement, and aligning teams.

WorkSpring partnered with the organization’s HR leader and a key mid-level manager to design and deliver a tailored leadership development experience.

The Challenge

Amid structural and cultural transitions, leaders were facing several common but critical challenges:

• Struggling to lead through change, creating uncertainty and hesitation across departments
• Inconsistent approaches to managing conflict, giving feedback, and holding teams accountable
• Low engagement and trust within and between teams, limiting collaboration and performance

With no formal leadership development in place, managers lacked the tools to lead with consistency and confidence.

Our Solution

WorkSpring launched a customized Leadership Development Series anchored in the DISC Personality Assessment—a practical framework for understanding individual communication and leadership styles.

The series focused on three core areas:

• Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Enhancing self-awareness, empathy, and regulation
• Leading Through Change: Equipping managers with tools to guide teams through transitions
• Team Building & Development: Improving communication, accountability, and cohesion

Key components of the program included:

• DISC assessments for each participant, followed by one-on-one debriefs exploring leadership tendencies
• Interactive workshops using DISC insights to apply EQ and change management skills
• Scenario-based learning to help managers navigate real-world leadership situations
• Team development labs focused on goal setting, performance coaching, and feedback
• Implementation toolkits to reinforce learning with conversation guides, feedback templates, and team-building exercises

Highlights

Delivered over a multi-session series, the program included:

• Personalized coaching sessions for each leader based on DISC results
• Peer learning workshops with group reflection, role play, and strategy development
• Team-focused sessions to improve understanding, clarity, and collaboration
• A strong emphasis on real-time application and long-term impact
• Ongoing support materials to help embed learning in daily leadership practice

The Results

Although still early in implementation, initial outcomes have been positive:

• Leaders reported increased self-awareness and an ability to adapt their leadership styles
• Teams expressed optimism about improved communication and reduced conflict
• Managers are beginning to implement consistent feedback practices and more inclusive decision-making

The program created a common language and framework that leaders and teams can use to build trust and improve performance.

Why It Matters

Effective leadership starts with self-awareness. When organizations invest in leadership development grounded in emotional intelligence, communication, and change readiness, they don’t just build better managers—they build stronger cultures.

By giving nonprofit leaders the tools to understand themselves and support their teams, this organization has laid the groundwork for long-term engagement, accountability, and impact.

Ready to Empower Your Leaders?

Let’s build a training program that equips your managers to lead with clarity, empathy, and confidence. Contact us at: workspring.org/training/contact-us