The way we see our role as a leader relates directly to the way we use our time and the impact we create.

It also relates to the level of overwhelm and burnout we experience.

Based on some common misconceptions, I am sharing how you can make the most impact as a humanitarian or development leader.

You'll learn two shifts in perspective that will help you focus your time and prioritize what w...

How much does your team rely on you?

Maybe it's not the entire team that needs your help.

Maybe it's one or two people.

You have shown them how to do something again and again...

And still they don't do it on their own.

If you recognize this situation, it is likely you are partly responsible for it.

You may think you are being helpful, but your actions as a leader are creating a team that...

Another year is almost over, and if you're like me, you may be asking... where did my time go?

And better yet, what have I accomplished?

Depending on how much you respect your own time, you may find yourself either doing urgent work for others, or doing important work for yourself.

What's interesting is many of us don't even realize when we are not respecting our time.

We think we are being...

Are you being a team player?

You may be surprised by the answer.

I see many aid worker supervisors saying "yes" to take on more work, so they can be a team player.

But ironically, many times by doing this they are doing the opposite.

They are not being a team player - they are actually letting their team down.

There is a small difference between REALLY being a team player and not being one...

It is very helpful as humanitarian and development leaders to ask ourselves about patterns we see with our team's behavior. 

Once we understand the "why" behind our team's behavior, we can ask ourselves what role we have in contributing to it, and whether we want it to continue or change.

Today we are going to focus on the reasons why our team asks us for advice.

Why do they ask us what to d...

What is your most important priority as a humanitarian or development leader?

Something that if you don't prioritize, your work will suffer, as well as those around you?

It's not a donor proposal.

Or a community visit.

If you said your own health and wellbeing, you're right!

If we are not healthy and in a positive mind-frame, then the quality of our work will not be our best.

And so we wi...

If you consider yourself a perfectionist, or lacking confidence, or experiencing imposter syndrome, chances are you have an inner critic.

You know - the voice in your head which says you're not enough, or that your work is not good enough.

It is SO common - I have several of them and see them show up in many humanitarian supervisors I coach.

And yet, sometimes we forget that this inner criti...

"One the Annual Report is done, I will develop my team."

"Once we hire the new person, I will take that course."

"After the year end close, I can visit the community."

See a pattern here?

The pattern is thinking that later is better- and that we don't have enough time right now.

And the thing is - once "later" comes (after the annual report, year end close or new staff hire) we STILL say "...

Even though development and humanitarian work is unpredictable, there are some things that we know will happen.

When I was in South Sudan, these included:

- Delayed procurements

- Last minute government meetings

- Late liquidations submitted by partners

I knew these things were going to happen, and yet, I planned my time as if they were not.

Looking back on this, I find it so fascinating ...

Many of us spend a lot of time preparing for meetings and for events on what we're going to say. 

We practice PowerPoint presentations.

We review our agendas.

But a few months from now, what will be remembered - what you said, or how your attendees felt afterwards?

It is rare we remember everything someone said - but we will remember how we FELT during an event or presentation.

And yet, we...