Aid for Aid Workers

Are you tired of waiting for your organization to help you achieve work-life balance or stop working long hours? This reminds me of a quote by Barack Obama: "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time, we are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." I think human nature is that we want to be saved, we want a hero to lead the way and tell us what to do. And as long as we are waiting for someone else, we are powerless. We do not take action because we are waiting for some external thing that we cannot control to help us. And not to say that we need to save ourselves in every situation or we need to save the world and do everything ourselves. But what I see in the humanitarian and development sector is that sometimes we wait for others to create lasting change when we need to start being that change ourselves. For example, I see so many humanitarian and development leaders waiting for their organizations to tell them to stop working long hours or to start taking care of themselves. This may happen and maybe your organization has told you that. But from my experience, your organization may say this, but what usually happens around you might be quite different. And so you keep waiting for someone else to save you, to make that change you want to see rather than stepping up and making it yourself. So why not create that change? Why not start the conversation with those around you on how you can do what is within your control to start a movement? For example to say that it is okay to not be available all the time. That you sometimes need to be able to not be available so that you can do focused work. To give yourself permission to say no to extra work and not work long hours all the time. You may think I don't have the authority or I might receive a warning from my supervisor, or I might get in trouble if I do this. But is that really true? And if your organization, like most right now in the humanitarian and development sector, wants to create this culture of protecting your time and creating a culture of wellbeing, if they're really serious about that and that is the future we're headed towards then they are essentially giving you permission to say no and to take care of yourself. But they can't force you to do that. YOU have to start. And if you feel uncomfortable being alone with this, essentially being the leader, being the first, then why not recruit others to do it with you? By being that change you seek, we can encourage others to make change as well. You have that ability, no matter what or where you are in the organization. You just need to make the decision to start doing it and bring others along with you. So, what change are you waiting for and how might you do one thing this week to start making that change?

I am feeling happy and sad right now. Sad because after 6 years and 300 episodes, I am ending "The Aid for Aid Workers Leadership Podcast". It has been a great journey - and I am honored you have been along for it. But I see the need to evolve and change. So much has happened in the last six years in the humanitarian and development sector!! Between the social justice movements, the need for greater inclusivity and diversity of thinking and leadership, and localization... We need to evolve as leaders if we are going to create these changes. And that is why I am inviting you on a new journey. I am happy to announce the launch of a new podcast, starting next week: "The Modern Humanitarian and Development Leader". "The Modern Humanitarian and Development Leader" podcast will help you: - Take control of your time, become more productive and create a high performing team without burnout and overwhelm  - Meet the needs of the changing humanitarian and development sectors, including how to lead more inclusively and shift power to those around us - Make a greater impact because you are clear on what you want and how to get there If you'd like to learn how to become a Modern Humanitarian and Development Leader, sign up for my email list here: https://lnkd.in/dHMEu4DS You'll receive the announcement of the release of the new podcast, as well as weekly tips and tricks to help you create more impact without the overwhelm and overwork. I can't wait to start this new journey together!

I am launching a NEW podcast and I want to hear from you! Please vote for the cover art you like the best (feedback on why is greatly appreciated). You can also suggest changes - thank you in advance! https://lnkd.in/dgneBtzx

We are our habits. The daily actions we take compound over time, and produce our results. This is demonstrated by one of my favorite authors James Clear (Atomic Habits) when he said: "Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become." So where are your habits taking you? One of the best ways to break bad habits is by starting "good" ones. In this week's podcast episode, I share 5 Habits to help you become a better leader. https://lnkd.in/gCqJmVqt

In order to create a more inclusive, localized aid sector a lot of change needs to happen. And that means as leaders we need to change too. But how will your role change as a leader? And what do you need to know now that can help you make that change? On today's podcast Humentum CEO Christine Sow shares what the modern humanitarian leadership will look like, and what that means for you. On this episode, you will learn: - The biggest challenges leaders face when being part of the change to localize and diversify the humanitarian and dev’t sectors - A best practice you as a leader can take when shifting power to your team - Understand the attributes needed to become the Modern Humanitarian and Development leader so you can be part of the change we all want to see Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/g-BUv_3t Humentum Christine Sow Amanda Hinkel-Mauceri

Have you ever considered the way you lead others could be adding to your workload? Just as the way humanitarian and development work has evolved over the last 50 to 60 years, so has the need to lead differently.  In this week's podcast episode on this subject you'll learn: - How leadership has evolved in the humanitarian and development sector and current requirements of the Modern Humanitarian and Development Leader 2.0 (today's leaders) - When to use different leadership styles effectively to get the most from your team - How to know if your leadership style is adding to your workload, or lessening it Stop creating more work for yourself and learn how to become the Modern Humanitarian Leader by listening now! https://lnkd.in/gfh-aDei

Humanitarian and development leaders: Do you feel stretched thin by work demands, struggling to carve out time for impactful projects? In this episode, we uncover three often-overlooked strategies for time management specifically tailored for humanitarian and development supervisors. Here's what you'll learn: - Gain insight into setting effective boundaries on your time and your team's time, empowering you to prioritize tasks strategically. - Understand the importance of respecting scheduled work time, avoiding the trap of overcommitment and burnout. - Identify and overcome "High Performance Syndrome" thoughts that may be sabotaging your productivity and learn how to coach yourself towards greater effectiveness. Listen now to unlock the secrets of effective time management and maximize your impact in your leadership role! https://lnkd.in/gkPuKUqF

"I want to make an impact as a humanitarian and development leader." Okay, great. But what does that mean? How do YOU want to make an impact? Not your project. Not your organization. You--- as an individual, and as a leader. What do you want your leadership impact to be? You may have a general idea that you want to help. But if we don't define the impact we want, we won't achieve it. Because we won't know what to focus on. Or how to MEASURE that impact. We have monitoring and evaluation for projects, but not for the impact we want to make as leaders. Want to REALLY make an impact? Find out how in this week's podcast episode, in which you will learn: 1. Insight into the importance of defining personal impact goals as leaders in humanitarian and development work 2. Strategies for identifying strengths, values, and areas of excitement to fuel impactful leadership 3. Techniques for setting clear and measurable goals to track progress and ensure meaningful outcomes Find the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/dfhpDBa4

Are you on track to achieve your annual goals? It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of work and life. Time passes, and we can end up in the same place we started. Without achieving our goals. If you want to achieve your goals, you need to be aware of how you use your time. Because that is the number one indicator of whether you will achieve them. How you spend your time = the future you are creating.  So simple, and yet so overlooked. It's kind of like when we want to lose weight. The first step is awareness of what we're eating. That's why people keep food diaries. Because we eat without thinking, whether what we are eating is good or bad. And so being aware of our actions will help us make better choices. What time choices are you making? And will your current actions lead to achieving your future goals? Find out more in this week's podcast episode, "How to Know If You'll Achieve Your Goals as a Humanitarian and Development Leader": https://lnkd.in/g2_d8tKs

What if there was a time management app that gave you more time? And made you more organized? Unfortunately it's not that simple. I know after having tried many, many time management apps. And having read tons of books on time management. There is no "magic fix". But there is something that prevents humanitarian leaders from effectively managing their time. And it has nothing to do with the tools they use... It's the way they think about time. Thinking that is well intentioned, but actually creates overwhelm and burnout. And prevent you from creating the impact you want. I call this way of thinking "High Performance Syndrome." And it is SO COMMON in the humanitarian sector. It is very likely you have at least one of these ways of thinking. A way of thinking that is keeping you from taking control of your time. One of them is "this needs to be perfect." Which leads to the never ending search for perfection. And there are others too... We can use all the time management apps in the world, but they won't help us if we don't understand the thoughts keeping us stuck. Want to find out more? Listen to this week's episode "What You Need to Know Before Using a Time Management App as a Humanitarian and Development Leader." https://lnkd.in/g24mNvnb