Our entire career as a leader - and in fact, our entire personal life as well - is a measure of how well we solve problems.

The better we are at solving problems, the more we advance.  The more we are able to learn and overcome.  And through the failure along the way, we also grow stronger.

So it's not hard to imagine why learning how to solve problems better is a very valuable skill.  Today I am sharing with you my four step process to solving problems better.  And it...

What have you accomplished over the last year as a supervisor and leader?

And more importantly, what led you to achieve what you have - and what may have prevented you from achieving more?

Taking the time to reflect on questions such as these can set us up for greater growth and success in the coming year.

Just like we do project reflections, we should reflect on our own learning too.

But learning what we have achieved should not be restricted to just the "how" we did it.  We also need...

Most of us are hoping there will be significant changes in the humanitarian and international development sectors in the next few years.

You're probably already familiar with some of the wish list: localization, decentralization, greater equity and inclusiveness.

This sounds great, but how likely is it to happen?

And what role can we as leaders play to help make it happen?

In this episode I take the findings in a recently published report on the changing role of INGO's now and into the...

You hear me talk a lot about coaching.

But I haven't really explained the differences between formal coaching and informal.

Today I've invited a guest to discuss the differences, benefits for your team and some practical ways to start.

Elena Sancho has 20 years experience in the aid sector and is now a certified professional coach.  She shares her journey in finding coaching, and how she has since integrated it into her work and life to help others benefit also.

Resources mentioned:

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What's the biggest adventure you've ever had?

For my guest today, it's hard to choose.

Birgit Hermann has run marathons with penguins, biked through Africa and traveled all over the world.

Her love of nature as well as her adventures has shaped the way she leads and how she's now inspiring others to follow their dreams and get out of their comfort zone.

One tool that has helped Birgit become the leader she is today is coaching - both being coached as well as learning how to do it herself.

In...

Most of us can recall examples of when a leader or someone we know brought to attention a policy, way of doing things or something someone said that overpowered someone else or a group of people.

And we ALL have opportunities to speak up for those who have less power than we do - whether it's someone of another gender or race or a beneficiary.  

But how do we speak up in a way that is productive and more likely to have a positive impact?

In this episode Chen Kandungure and I...

You may not even be aware you are doing it.

How much your everyday language - and the WAY you talk about situations, impacts the way you lead yourself and others around you.

Language that makes things seem extreme.

And in the humanitarian and development world, there is PLENTY to exaggerate.

"The donor always delivers proposals late."

"The community is never on time."

"My team doesn't communicate with me."

These sound like factual statements, but when we look closer, they are actually not...

We all know them.

Leaders who are not aware how their behavior impacts their team.

They have no idea that they frequently put the team down or start yelling for no apparent reason.

The kind of leader we all want to avoid and avoid becoming.

One of the best ways to become the leader you admire is by being aware of how your behavior is being perceived by others.

In other words, becoming more self-aware.

It is possible to grow your self-awareness.

And studies have linked it closely to increased...

Some of you have asked for a peek behind my coaching course - how is it run?  How do we ensure students complete the course successfully?

In response I interviewed Maureen Murigi, my Admin Support Manager for the course.  Maureen shares what the course looks like from her perspective - and the challenges she faces while making sure students have what they need to finish successfully.

If you'd like to enroll in the coaching course, doors are open until Wednesday, July 6th!  ...

We've arrived at episode 200 - I can't believe it! 

For this special occasion I have asked a special guest to come on the podcast.. my husband Shannon. Shannon has over 20 years' experience working for INGO's and the UN in numerous countries from Haiti to Afghanistan. He's had a lot of experience in the field, and unfortunately also a lot of experience under toxic leadership. 

In this episode we discuss why toxic leaders exist in the humanitarian world, what we can do in a toxic...