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 a significant impact in our lives and work One of our favorite vacation spots If you want links to the many things mentioned in the episode, you can go to www.aidforaidworkers.com/blog/51 or find them in the weekly newsletter if you're subscribed.  Enjoy!

Aid for Aid Workers

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

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 focus on your strengths, but also help out your team.  A win-win for everyone!  

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

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. In this episode we cover: How we are all responsible for creating culture of wellbeing The importance of brave spaces over safe spaces How to Bring our human-ness back into the workplace The importance of bringing rituals to the workplace and how you can do so as a leader The importance as a leader of having a support section (like an accountability partner) And more! Resources: The Vulnerable Humanitarian:  Ending Burnout in the Aid Sector by Dr Gemma Houldey For a 20% discount on the book follow the instructions here Contact Dr. Gemma here 

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

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 supervisor, and show up as our best selves? The key is self-awareness. Find out how to become more self-aware and in-control of your behavior and results.  

How to Not Be a Difficult Supervisor

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 course: Find out more here.

Using Coaching to Increase Staff Wellbeing

It always amazes me to see how my students incorporate coaching in their work.  Today's guest Inonge Wina-Chinyama is a Senior Advisor for MSI Zambia in the areas of youth and disabilities.  The nature of her role as an advisor is the opposite of coaching, that is telling others what to do.  And so it was very surprising to Inonge when by stepping away from advice and into asking questions, people appreciated her even more.  Learn what happened and how this approach has helped her not only make a greater impact in her work but also free up time to focus on other areas. Resources The Aid Worker's Guide to Successful Coaching 101 - Start date October 4th

How a "Coach Approach" Greatly Increased the Impact of My Work

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 consider before going to the field How to show up and communicate with colleagues to build relationships How to build trust with a new team The importance of values mirroring Why it's important to be intentional with hiring in these times Considerations to make when practicing your values And more! Resources: Hawa's Social Media and Other Resources BRAVING Acronym by Brene Brown Your Emotional Bank Account by Steven Covey  

Maintaining Organizational Culture Despite Working Remotely in the Humanitarian Sector

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 comes from The consequences of perfectionism Perfectionism and your identity  Five steps to overcome perfectionism How perfectionism leads to lower quality work  And more! 

Overcoming Perfectionism as a Humanitarian Worker

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 comfortable with?  This is a question we asked ourselves when I worked in Timor-Leste several years ago, and the feedback mechanism we came up with became known as the SMT Plus. The SMT Plus is a simple and yet VERY effective way to give your team a voice, and to show them you care and want to know about their concerns and challenges.  It allows staff a way for staff to speak up in a way they feel comfortable, and for you as leaders to build trust and engagement.   In this interview with the current CRS Timor-Leste Country Manager Yane Pinto, as well as SMT member Alberto Freitas, and two staff members Helena de Jesus and Agus Ximenes, we discuss how the SMT Plus works, how it can be created and the numerous benefits that have resulted from it. Here is a summary of some of the steps to consider as covered in this episode: Four SMT Plus members - two are selected by the staff (through confidential voting) and two by the SMT  Members must represent the staff - two female and two male, and balance of admin and programming, as well as a balance between more senior staff and drivers, cleaners SMT Plus members once selected approach each staff and ask what concerns they want them to bring to the SMT Meeting SMT Plus members rotate, and attend a quarterly SMT meeting and observe as well as provide insight to the SMT meeting around the topics brought forth The issues brought forward by the SMT Plus members must represent the concerns of the broader team/staff The SMT needs to show they have taken action and communicate how the issues raised by the SMT Plus members have been addressed after the meeting Not only does it increase trust and engagement, but also those selected as SMT Plus members feel honored and take the responsibility seriously Non-SMT members participating in the meeting can see how a SMT meeting runs and how decisions are made at the senior level Keep in mind to have a translator present as needed for staff that struggle with language used by SMT For more information, please contact Yane Pinto - Yane.Pinto@crs.org 

A Proven Team Feedback Mechanism that Eliminates Gossip and Increases Engagement

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 Core Humanitarian Standards Alliance (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 preventing aid organizations from creating cultures of wellbeing and better work-life balance?  In this episode she shares the results from the study, and some practical tips you can apply to help your team and your own organization move closer to a healthy work culture. Resources: Core Humanitarian Standards Alliance Working Well Research paper Leading Well Research paper Embodying Change podcast Stop Being Inconsistent and Start Aligning Your Values to Your Actions in Aid Work - Aid for Aid Workers podcast episode Melissa's email: mpitotti@chsalliance.org Oxfam Building Trust in Diverse Teams 

The Leader's Role in Promoting Wellbeing in Humanitarian Work

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 learning is helpful - How to get out of the "unhelpful learning" rut And more!

Helpful Versus Unhelpful Learning in Humanitarian Work

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 of Emotion: The Science of Mind-Body Medicine by Candace Pert

How to Feel Better About Your Work in the Humanitarian Sector

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 organization.  So it's worth understanding how to use it properly! In this episode you'll learn: What email is really supposed to be used for When to use email and when to NOT use it What to consider when sending an email How to make it easier for the person receiving your email Some simple ways you can use email professionally and effectively 

Four Common Misuses of Email and How to Fix Them

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 common misconceptions about it What self-confidence is not, and how you may be seeking it in the wrong places How to grow greater self-confidence that is long lasting  

Three Steps to Greater Self-Confidence

"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.  

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

This show tailored to leaders in international development provides aid workers with advice, lessons learned and inspirational ideas from peers in our field who have experiences to share or are just “doing things differently.” Whether you are a Country Manager with years of experience or a Project Manager in a new leadership position, host Torrey Peace navigates the challenges common to aid workers that are unique to our field, such as time management in an unpredictable environment, leading and unifying teams from diverse cultural backgrounds, different perspectives on community development or how to do it all while maintaining our own physical health and important relationships, with time for travel and adventure! If you are interested in joining a global network of aid professionals please visit aidforaidworkers.com and click on the Join Us page.

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Aid for Aid Workers

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