Fear Isn’t the Enemy—It’s the Catalyst: Emotional EQ for Nonprofit Leaders

In a moment of transformational clarity, life and leadership coach George “Iceberg” Miller addresses what so many in the sector struggle with but rarely name: fear. Hosted by Julia Patrick, this conversation dares nonprofit leaders to face their internal barriers and lead from a place of emotional intelligence.

“We train ourselves out of even feeling anxiety and fear,” George says. But instead of rejecting fear, he challenges us to embrace it as a guide—not a threat. With heartfelt stories and grounded strategies, he redefines fear as a powerful source of data and growth. “What if we change that to—no, this is part of life?”

Together, the duo unpack the burnout crisis plaguing the nonprofit sector, especially among development professionals who rarely stay longer than 19 months. But rather than despair, George offers a hopeful alternative: presence. “All I did was say, ‘I’m angry.’ And it led to the most productive meeting of my career.”

From volunteer teachers who avoid burnout by staying connected to meaningful work, to financial leaders unlocking emotional resilience through micro-interactions, George shows that radical change begins within. His vision is clear: leadership isn't just about competence—it's about relational courage.

For anyone navigating budget cuts, burnout, or policy shifts, this episode is a masterclass in transforming fear into fuel. “If I can allow myself to feel that fear, stop criticizing myself for it… then I can create something new.”

Let this dynamic session be your invitation to pause, breathe, and reimagine your leadership—not as something to fix, but as something to feel.

00:00:00 Welcome introduction
00:03:46 Recognizing fear in nonprofit leadership
00:05:06 Reframing fear as useful, not wrong
00:07:01 Burnout and emotional suppression in development roles
00:09:04 Avoid burnout through meaningful service
00:11:42 Can emotional growth happen quickly?
00:13:22 Emotions as foundational leadership data
00:17:06 A single sentence that changed a team
00:21:03 Leaders modeling emotional presence
00:22:44 Fear, change, and historical perspective
00:25:52 Using anxiety to fuel creativity and hope 

#EmotionalIntelligence #NonprofitLeadership #FearToFriend

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