Aid for Aid Workers Leadership Podcast

Four Steps to Go from Demotivated to Productive

May 30, 2022 09:03 - 13 minutes - 10.8 MB

Are you feeling demotivated with development or humanitarian work? It can show up in different ways. Maybe you're feeling more tired than usual. Or you just don't feel like checking your email. Or getting to that task---whatever it is. Today I am going to walk you through four simple steps to overcome feelings of demotivation so you can start becoming your more energized self. They are steps I have taken as a Country Manager and follow even now---and whether you're feeling demo...

Qualities of a High Achiever - Internal vs External Validation?

May 23, 2022 06:43 - 16 minutes - 12.9 MB

I was honored to do a Time Management Master Training at the WILD Forum last week. After the training, I found myself looking through the participants' comments for feedback. And I quickly stopped myself. While receiving feedback is wonderful, we need to be careful when we find ourselves craving it. In my case, I was craving the feedback to confirm that "this presentation is amazing" - or really "I am amazing." Although I found the feedback to validate people felt it was good, I also fou...

The Quick Fix Myth

May 16, 2022 05:00 - 7 minutes - 6.35 MB

Wouldn't it be great if we knew exactly what a community wanted without talking to them? If we knew what the community wanted, we could skip all the design meetings, all the planning and just get started with implementation. It would be great. But it's not reality. Although we may want to rush, when we fix things quickly now we can make them harder in the long run. The same goes for supervising our teams. We may think we are fixing things when we quickly tell our teams what to do,...

Using Diversity to Increase Team Performance in the Humanitarian Sector

May 09, 2022 05:00 - 38 minutes - 30.8 MB

Sometimes creating a more diverse and inclusive environment in the aid sector seems like a huge task that's going to take time. And there is some truth in that. That said, there are things we as humanitarian leaders can start doing immediately with our existing teams to create more diversity. Things that we may not normally consider. My guest today Saraounia Mboka-Boyer has 13 years' experience in international development and lived in Africa 16 years. She calls herself an "Inclusion En...

I Don't Know

May 02, 2022 05:00 - 9 minutes - 7.64 MB

How often do you tell yourself or hear your team say "I Don't Know"? "I don't know how to do a donor presentation." "I don't know how to write a strategic plan." "I don't know how to manage my time." It sounds like a reasonable thing. To not know how. But often times, we use it as an excuse. An excuse to not take action. And so we are stuck and stay the same. And nothing happens. It's important to know when we are using the "I Don't Know" excuse, and how we can overcome i...

How to Handle Conflict as an Aid Worker Leader

April 25, 2022 05:00 - 31 minutes - 25.6 MB

Handling conflict as a humanitarian leader can be scary. How do we best address conflict so that it is a win-win for us and the other person(s) involved? My guest today, Jo Rodrigues, has 16 years' experience working with the UN, INGO's and various other organizations on how to overcome conflict in a way that everyone feels understood and valued. You may be surprised by some of the steps to resolve conflict Jo shares, which we sometimes ignore or skip - resulting in creating more confl...

How to Create Time for Focused Work in the Aid World

April 18, 2022 05:00 - 27 minutes - 21.9 MB

In last week's episode, Chen Kadungure and I talked about how to create focus and eliminate distractions so you can do more focused or deep work. Once again deep work is focused, uninterrupted, undistracted work on a task that pushes your cognitive abilities to their limit. Examples of this include——writing or reviewing a donor report, proposal writing, strategic planning, or creating a new way of doing something. So that’s all well and good, but how do we actually CREATE time for focuse...

How to Create Focus and Minimize Distractions in Aid Work

April 11, 2022 05:00 - 28 minutes - 22.6 MB

“If you don't produce, you won't thrive—no matter how skilled or talented you are.” Cal Newport, author of “Deep Work” Noisy generators. Crowing roosters. Loud music. Working in the aid world can be very distracting! Not to mention all the email, texts and other notifications. Sometimes it's hard to create an environment for focus. So you can do the IMPORTANT work.... concentrated work. The work that will make the most impact. But sometimes given all the challenges, creating...

The Power of Silence Part Two

April 04, 2022 05:00 - 14 minutes - 11.4 MB

Today is a bit different from our typical episode. After publishing "The Power of Silence",which discusses how we can use silence for more meaningful communication, I received a question from a longtime listener. She asked "how do we use silence (or should we) during a difficult conversation?" This is a great question, and so I decided to do a follow up episode to answer it! How DO we use silence in a powerful conversation ---when should we and when is it not appropriate? Listen ...

Making Leadership Transitions Easier and Better as Humanitarians

March 28, 2022 07:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MB

If there's one thing we can count on in humanitarian work, it's CHANGE! We are constantly making transitions - and as leaders, even more so. Whether it's managing a new team, a new project or just wanting to become a better leader, being intentional about how we transition can make a big difference in how we show up. In this episode my guest and fellow coach Asel Ormonova provides ways you can make smoother and better transitions, even as a humanitarian leader. Resources and links: Ase...

Hiring for Behavior Over Just Experience

March 21, 2022 07:00 - 26 minutes - 20.9 MB

We all know the nightmares. You go through a hiring process -- and think you've found the perfect candidate. They have tons of great experience. And they have a great network. You can't wait for them to start working on your team! Until... their true character is shown. Perhaps they are late to work repeatedly. Or maybe they don't trust anyone on the team. Or maybe they cause a lot of conflicts. Whatever the case, it can be said there's a lot of value in hiring people based on...

The Best Way to a More Motivated and Innovative Team

March 14, 2022 07:00 - 13 minutes - 10.7 MB

Have you heard of the TV show Undercover Boss? It's where a senior manager for a large company disguises themselves and then works alongside their staff on the ground. What usually happens is they find out all the things going right, but also those going wrong. And what's interesting is the people on the ground know what's going wrong and know how to solve it - but don't have the power to change it. It makes me wonder how these senior managers could empower their teams more so they a...

Using Art to Bring Hope and Inspiration

March 07, 2022 08:00 - 28 minutes - 22.7 MB

"Man can be destroyed but not defeated." - Hemingway Mehmet Gunes has not had it easy. After the conflict broke out in Syria, he lost everything. And so he had to look for a new livelihood in a new country. Fortunately he had his poetry to help him persevere. After facing failure after failure, he found his calling: mixing music with learning. In this episode he shares his journey and how music and poetry can help unite us across cultures and bring hope for the future. For res...

How to Build a Sense of Team Remotely as a Humanitarian Leader

February 28, 2022 07:00 - 25 minutes - 20.7 MB

Whether it's due to a pandemic, working in a field office or across continents, remote work is a reality as a humanitarian leader. But with working remotely comes a sense of distance - not just phsyically but mentally too. So how do we close the gap and unite our teams given the challenges of remote work? In this episode Chenai Kadungure and myself provide some ways you can unite your team despite the technical and distance challenges that come with working at a distance.

Aid Worker Fashion and Leadership

February 14, 2022 06:00 - 25 minutes - 20.2 MB

There are plenty of reasons to not put a lot of effort into our appearance. Working behind a computer or a mask may make us think that "it doesn't matter" how we look. But the thing is - it's not just about how you appear to others. It's also how you appear to yourself that matters. In today's episode Chenai Kadungure and myself discuss aid worker fashion statements and how we look impacts not only how we lead but the ability to get where we want to go professionally. And if you'd l...

Best Practices in Adapting to Extreme Humanitarian Environments

February 07, 2022 06:00 - 29 minutes - 23.5 MB

Hurricane damage. Flooding. Civil conflict. Whatever the disaster, as humanitarian leaders it is essential we know how to quickly adapt and do the best we can. And that means being productive while also maintaining our sanity. My guest today Jenelle Eli is an expert in adapting to extreme environments. This in part is because her success in her role as the Senior Director of Media Relations and International Communications for the American Red Cross depends on it. In this episode...

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

January 31, 2022 06:00 - 26 minutes - 20.9 MB

Do you ever feel like you're not qualified for the position you're in? If so you're not alone. Especially for women, it is common to feel what is called "imposter syndrome" or that you don't really belong in your current role. So how can you overcome it? The key is awareness and knowing how to recognize it. In today's episode Chenai Kadungure and myself discuss what imposter syndrome is, why women sometimes feel it more than men and steps you can take to overcome it. And if you...

Double Your Leadership Impact by Going WILD

January 24, 2022 06:00 - 31 minutes - 24.8 MB

If you listen to this podcast you already know how important leadership is in the humanitarian and international development space. Great leaders can motivate others toward achieving a shared vision. Not so great leaders can cause team members to work long hours, lose motivation and quit their roles. So how do we become great leaders, the kind that we admire? One way is by going WILD. The Women Innovators and Leaders Network, that is. The WILD Network is specifically for aid work...

Achieve Your Goals More Quickly and Easily

January 17, 2022 04:00 - 11 minutes - 9.05 MB

Last week we discussed what to do before you set goals for the year. Today I am sharing an unconventional way of achieving your goals more easily and quickly. I had not considered this part of goal setting before, but now that I am it has made a BIG difference in how I achieve my goals. A few simple questions and reflection can put you on track to end your year on track and becoming the person you hope to be. The type of leader you want to be. And if you'd like to receive the coachi...

An Overlooked Best Practice in Goal Setting

January 10, 2022 10:00 - 14 minutes - 11.5 MB

A new year has begun - and that means new possibilities! The best way to achieve a future you're excited about is to define what you want. Goal setting is how we define the future we want. Setting goals is motivating and exciting, but many of us overlook a best practice in setting goals. In this episode you'll learn what to do BEFORE setting next year's goals as a humanitarian leader. This is an important step that if you do will make your goal setting for the coming year even MORE...

Taking Responsibility

January 03, 2022 07:00 - 19 minutes - 15.8 MB

A philosophy I am aspiring to live by right now is to take more responsibility in my work and life. That means recognizing that the results in my life and work are consequences of the choices I have made. Sometimes we confuse what is within our control and what is outside of it, meaning we do not always recognize how much control we have over certain outcomes (health, professional advancement, etc). In this episode I present three primary areas aid workers forget we have control and how t...

Using Batching to Save Time in Aid Work

December 27, 2021 14:00 - 19 minutes - 16 MB

Over the last few months I took the advice of some time management books and tried batching. Batching means implementing similar tasks in one block of time. I am surprised by how much this simple act has freed up my time! For example, I used to spend 8 hours on producing one podcast episode, but after batching I can do about three episodes in four hours! There is much to be said about batching tasks, and especially as applied to aid work. In this episode I share some ideas on how you can ba...

How a Mastermind Gave Me Valuable Leadership Support - and How You Can Easily Form One

December 13, 2021 14:00 - 29 minutes - 23.7 MB

Maybe you've heard of a Mastermind Group. Maybe you've even thought about joining one. Well I can tell you from my experience, I have found them so valuable I have formed two myself and all three of my Masterminds have been invaluable in terms of giving me great advice during difficult times, encouragement when I have struggled and celebrations when I have done well. Not only this, I have learned so much from my fellow Mastermind members around leadership and other topics! I would not ha...

How to Become a Productivity Ninja - Aid Worker Style

December 06, 2021 12:00 - 39 minutes - 31.5 MB

Whether it's managing email, determining which working group meeting to attend or balancing time to respond to our team's needs, as aid workers we need all the help we can get to be able to make deadlines and maintain a work-life balance. Of course there are a ton of resources on how to increase productivity - but what are some of the best tips for aid work? My guest today has figured out quite a few - with a ninja twist. Lauren Pelascini's role as Sub Regional Head of Programs makes t...

How to Advance as a Strong Female Leader in a Male Dominated Context - and Other Lessons

November 29, 2021 10:00 - 45 minutes - 36.6 MB

In this interview Edna Morris, with forty years' experience in the male dominated restaurant industry, shares some great advice to apply to our field in many of the patriarchal contexts for men and women. For example when Edna was told by several men that the role she had taken at a new job should be for a man, she shares how she handled this situation in a way which earned her respect. She also shares advice around how her leadership skills evolved as she advanced in her career and example...

Is Your Leadership Style Preventing Community Engagement?

November 22, 2021 10:00 - 48 minutes - 39.1 MB

We all engage with communities on some level in our work. But the difference between meaningful engagement and mediocre is the difference between the community adopting new technologies or maintaining behavioral practices beyond the life of the project versus a full stop. So how can we more meaningfully engage with communities? Lucky for us, Deb Cummins of Bridging Peoples has significant experience in this area and provides some practical advice you can start using next week to better i...

A Donor Perspective on INGO Leadership - The Good, the Bad and What to Never Do

November 08, 2021 12:00 - 24 minutes - 19.6 MB

This interview is a bit different - and that is because it is not from an aid worker perspective on humanitarian leadership, but from the donor perspective! In this interview an individual working for a large, global donor shares, well, the good, the bad and the what you should never do when working with a donor. He has a lot of great advice for all you leaders who interact with donors whether during visits, or during stakeholder meetings or when leading a project. I think this will be e...

How to Maintain a Healthy Diet in the Field

October 25, 2021 14:00 - 26 minutes - 21.6 MB

Just when you think you've established a healthy eating routine as an aid worker... you have to travel to the field. Whether it's the community or a field office, eating healthy can be challenging when traveling outside of our home base. I have struggled with eating healthily in some very rural areas, but it is possible. In this episode I share with you six tips that will help you to maintain your diet when in the field, and by so doing maintain your health and wellbeing.

How to Maintain Your Health, Survive a Long Distance Relationship and Our Most Significant Habits

October 18, 2021 15:00 - 30 minutes - 24.6 MB

ENCORE EPISODE (FROM 2018): This episode is includes advice my husband Shannon and I have based on 32 years' combined experience in the aid worker and humanitarian field. In this episode you can learn: Best thing you can do for your health when living in a difficult environment Our best advice for surviving long distance relationships (we have five years experience) Daily habits that made the most impact in our lives in 2018 Habits we hope to maintain in 2019 Books that have made ...

How to Focus On Your Strengths as a Leader in Aid Work

October 11, 2021 14:00 - 7 minutes - 6.09 MB

We all have our strengths as leaders. You know, the areas in which you feel come naturally to you. Maybe you even enjoy working on them. It could be managing budgets, or helping local partners, or writing proposals. Whatever it is, when you spend more time in that area, you are more productive. And when you work in areas in which you're not as strong, well... things.... slow.... down... So why not find ways to focus more on your strengths? In this episode I provide a great way to...

How Leaders Can Help End Burnout in the Humanitarian Sector with Dr Gemma Houldey

October 04, 2021 19:19 - 45 minutes - 36.3 MB

As humanitarians unfortunately we are likely to have experienced burnout at one time or another. And it was just this experience that inspired today's guest Dr. Gemma Houldey to do a thesis on the same - a look at the systemic issues in the aid world causing burnout. As part of a way organizations can address the burnout of national and international staff, Dr. Gemma has also published a book (see resources section below) which provides practical ways we as leaders can help address it. ...

How to Not Be a Difficult Supervisor

September 27, 2021 14:00 - 11 minutes - 9.37 MB

We've all had them in humanitarian work. Given that we spend the majority of our time working or with colleagues, they can make life difficult. And we hope we will never be like them. That's right, I am talking about difficult supervisors. The kind that make you go "ugh". I know I have had my own moments where I behaved in a way my team probably didn't agree with. And that of course impacts team performance and morale. And so our results. So how can we NOT be a difficult super...

Using Coaching to Increase Staff Wellbeing

September 20, 2021 14:00 - 15 minutes - 12.2 MB

What's a very effective and often overlooked way to increase staff wellbeing? Allowing them space to talk about things that are important to them, and asking questions to help them move forward. In other words, having a coaching conversation. In this episode I discuss the many ways coaching can increase the wellbeing of your team, and some powerful questions to use for just such a conversation. And if you'd like to learn how to coach your team, enrollment is now open for my digital...

Maintaining Organizational Culture Despite Working Remotely in the Humanitarian Sector

September 06, 2021 13:47 - 41 minutes - 33.2 MB

The past few years have brought many changes - one of which is remote work. I know several supervisors who have not met their teams in person, and still don't know when that will happen! So since we are working remotely, how can we build trust and an organizational culture? My guest today Hawa Kombian is an Organizational Specialist who provides some practical ways leaders can do just that - unify remote teams. In this episode you'll learn: What the humanitarian world should conside...

Overcoming Perfectionism as a Humanitarian Worker

August 30, 2021 12:06 - 15 minutes - 12.8 MB

We all sometimes have perfectionist tendencies. Most humanitarians want to do great work! However, when this desire to do great work makes us more stressed, prevents us from turning things in and keeps us paralyzed, perfectionism can ironically lead to imperfectionism. None of us need added stress in our lives, and we all want to get things in on time, so how can we overcome the need for "perfect"? In this episode you'll learn: Common traits of perfectionism Where perfectionism co...

A Proven Team Feedback Mechanism that Eliminates Gossip and Increases Engagement

August 23, 2021 16:40 - 44 minutes - 35.9 MB

How open is the communication with your team? Do they say everything that's on their mind, or are there certain things which turn into gossip and you hear second or third hand? From my experience, it is very rare to have a team that tells you everything. There's always something left unsaid, that can potentially build and escalate into an issue that if unresolved can lead to staff turnover, low morale and more. But how do we find a way to give our teams a voice that they feel comfort...

The Leader's Role in Promoting Wellbeing in Humanitarian Work

August 16, 2021 18:22 - 44 minutes - 35.5 MB

Wellbeing is a big topic of the humanitarian world these days, and rightfully so. I mean, why is it an organization which specializes in helping people find it so difficult to help its own staff? My guest today, Melissa Pitotti, has some answers. And they may not all be what you think. Melissa works for the CHS Alliance. She recently helped conduct a research study called "Leading Well" which brought together 15 CEO's of humanitarian organizations to ask this question - what is prevent...

Helpful Versus Unhelpful Learning in Humanitarian Work

August 09, 2021 12:26 - 10 minutes - 8.22 MB

If you're listening to this podcast, chances are you enjoy learning. And that alone is not a bad thing. But when learning becomes a distraction or way to procrastinate, or even overwhelming, it can become unhelpful. And that is good to be aware of - because then you can turn it into helpful learning! In this episode you'll learn: - What makes learning helpful versus unhelpful - Why we sometimes fall into unhelpful learning - Two questions you can ask yourself to make sure your learn...

How to Feel Better About Your Work in the Humanitarian Sector

August 02, 2021 17:54 - 19 minutes - 15.9 MB

We all have those days in humanitarian work. The ones where you're not motivated to do anything. When you feel like nothing is going your way. When you want to quit. These up's and down's are normal in humanitarian work. But sometimes you need that extra boost to get you out of that funk and back to your productive, motivated self. In this episode I share eight ways you can feel better about your work again, and get into a more positive frame of mind. Resource mentioned: Molecules...

Four Common Misuses of Email and How to Fix Them

July 26, 2021 14:00 - 23 minutes - 18.7 MB

I remember when I sent my first email. I waited in excitement as the dial tone sounded, and the email I just typed blinked from my outbox... such a magical moment! Since then, email has become more of a source of anxiety than excitement, as many can probably relate. And when people misuse email, it becomes even worse. Not only does the misuse of email cause delays, conflicts and lower productivity, it also comes across as being unprofessional and can impact how you're seen in your organ...

Three Steps to Greater Self-Confidence

July 19, 2021 14:29 - 11 minutes - 9.31 MB

One of the requests I frequently receive in leadership coaching is to help humanitarian leaders build their self-confidence. The hope is that by having greater self-confidence, they will be able to do more and grow more. This is great, but I have also found there's a lot of confusion around what self-confidence is and where it comes from. And knowing these things is the key to developing greater self-confidence. In this episode, you'll learn: What is self-confidence, and what are com...

How a Non-Supervisor Uses Coaching in Her Work with Humanitarians

July 12, 2021 13:38 - 16 minutes - 13.3 MB

"I can't use coaching because I am not a supervisor." This is something I hear frequently from aid workers. But my guest today, Jenny House, will tell you it's not true. Although she wasn't quite sure how she would use coaching once she learned it, since taking my digital course Jenny has totally changed the way she worked with her colleagues. And making an impact in their lives and work doesn't involve being a supervisor. You can find out more about Jenny at her website here.

Helpful Versus Helpless Questions - Which Are You Asking As a Humanitarian Leader?

July 05, 2021 17:15 - 14 minutes - 11.8 MB

What type of questions do you ask yourself and others - high quality, helpful questions or low quality, helpless questions? Often we don't stop to think about how the questions we choose can impact ourselves as humanitarian leaders and our teams. For example, a high quality, helpful question can help you or someone on your team move forward and create solutions. A lower quality question can create a feeling of scarcity and helplessness. I encourage you to notice the types of questions...

Being More Inclusive of People with Disabilities as a Humanitarian Leader

June 28, 2021 16:49 - 34 minutes - 27.9 MB

"Society is putting the burden on people with disabilities to educate the world on being more accessible - and that is ableism." - Haben Girma, Disability Rights Advocate Call me ignorant, but I had never looked at it this way before: that what is making people "disabled" 80% of the time is the environment they are working and living in. In other words, change the environment, and the person suddenly becomes "enabled." This is one of the many things Samantha Sibanda pointed out in her ...

Going from Limiting to Limitless Thinking as a Humanitarian Leader

June 21, 2021 16:04 - 13 minutes - 10.5 MB

If you want to find out where your limited thinking is limiting you, then just look at the places in your work or life that are not where you want them to be. Our thinking is very powerful, as it creates our emotions, our thinking and our behavior. And so if you have thinking or beliefs that limit you, then it will be difficult for you to advance and achieve your goals. In this episode I discuss the most common types of limiting beliefs of humanitarian leaders, how to identify them in...

How to Avoid Cultural Misunderstandings as an Aid Worker

June 14, 2021 13:45 - 38 minutes - 31 MB

When ordering food at a restaurant, depending on where you are ordering something like "chips" or "biscuits" or even "cookies" or "crisps" can bring something different than what you expected. This is only one relatively harmless example of how working in different cultures can be confusing and at times, frustrating. Ordering the wrong food is unfortunate, but there are a lot of other unfortunate ways we can misunderstand a new culture and create discomfort for ourselves and those around ...

Navigating Difficult Change: A Case Study from a Humanitarian Leader

June 07, 2021 15:27 - 30 minutes - 24.3 MB

Let's face it, humanitarian and development work are reliably unpredictable. Insecurity, limited resources, and many other factors can make doing a simple task such as visiting a community challenging. One of the most dreaded tasks from my perspective as a leader was a funding cut. A sudden cut in funding not only impacts the communities where we work but also the ability to keep our staff - and this of course means livelihoods are affected. My guest today, Shamnaz Ahmed, shares the ...

The Danger of Judging Others

May 31, 2021 12:21 - 10 minutes - 8.08 MB

As a human, you've probably had a negative thought or two about your team members or direct reports. It is only natural, and yet, judging others negatively is NOT helpful as a leader. When you judge your direct report, you are assuming what you are saying about them is a fact, when it isn't. It is also not a useful place to be when you decide to have a performance based conversation. So how do we move from judging to something more productive? In this episode I share what helps me to...

Are You Doing it Right? Two Lessons from my Coaching Course for Aid Workers

May 24, 2021 12:50 - 18 minutes - 14.7 MB

I am excited to share with you two lessons from the first level of my digital coaching course, The Aid Worker's Guide to Successful Coaching 101. After experiencing these two lessons my students' most common reaction is: "Wow, I thought this whole time I was practicing coaching, but I wasn't!" What about you? These lessons will teach you the differences between coaching, counseling and consulting, and when you should and should not use coaching. Enjoy!

You Don't Need to Know It All to be a Caring Leader in International Development

May 17, 2021 13:25 - 8 minutes - 7.14 MB

As supervisors in international development it is easy to forget that we don't need to know all the answers. When our teams come to us with problems, our instinct or habit may be to tell them how to resolve their problem. Many of us may think that this is being a caring leader, but I would argue the opposite is true. In this episode, I will share why. Resources mentioned: The Puzzle of Motivation by Dan Pink TED Talk

Aid for Aid Workers Leadership Podcast

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