My Top 3 Lessons Learned in 2023 - Part One of Three

Are you a humanitarian or international development leader who wants to make a greater impact, but without the overwhelm and burnout? If you want to create a high performance team that meets the changing demands of the humanitarian and development sector without sacrificing your well being, check out "The Modern Humanitarian and Development Leader" podcast. In less time than it takes you to drink your powdered milk Nescafe, you will learn how to empower a diverse team to perform their best despite cultural and personality differences, what's keeping you from greater productivity and how to overcome it and how to meet the leadership needs of the modern humanitarian and development sector while making a greater impact and avoiding burnout. I'm your host, Torrey Peace, and after 12 years working in humanitarian and development, As well as coaching hundreds of leaders across the UN, INGOs, and civil society globally, I have observed first hand the overwork and overwhelm that is so common and leads to burnout. The good news is that I've also discovered how you can lead differently in order to step out of overwhelm and start making a bigger impact than you thought possible. And I want to share it with you. Join me every Monday to learn practical insights and tips to help you become a modern humanitarian and development leader. And on Wednesdays for inspirational quotes to get you through the week. Check out "The Modern Humanitarian and Development Leader " podcast on any platform you listen to your podcasts. I recommend you start with episode one, "Say No to Burnout in the Humanitarian and Development Sector: how to do less and make a bigger impact". See you there!

Why this is the last podcast episode of The Aid for Aid Workers Leadership podcast, and how my decision to end it will help you become a better leader. In this podcast you will learn: Why I have decided to end this podcast after 300 episodes!! 3 things that most humanitarian and dev’t leaders are not aware of that prevent them from leading better Next steps you can take to make a bigger impact without the overwhelm and burnout To learn more about the launch of "The Modern Humanitarian and Development Leader" podcast visit:  www.aidforaidworkers.com/email   

In this episode I provide five habits you can easily practice to become a better leader in humanitrian and international development.  You'll learn how to incorporate these habits into your work week, and how they can help you become healthier, more motivated in addition to getting better results from those you lead.

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 extremely useful for you and give you some insight on what donors want from INGO leadership. In this interview you will learn among other things: What a donor may expect out of an INGO leader How to create a positive relationship with your donor How to set up your team for success in donor interactions The most surprising thing for him about working with INGO leaders The best way to seek information on new opportunities  For more episodes on how to broaden your impact, please visit www.aidforaidworkers.com!

We’ve all been tortured by the same old “let me show you ALL my results” presentations in aid work. They all blend together after a while. So how can you make your public presentation (sharing of Baseline or Endline Results or Strategy) more memorable? Well you’re in luck, because in this episode I share three proven ways to conduct a presentation that will leave your stakeholders thinking “wow that organization is amazing! I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!” Through these three ways you’ll wow your audience and make them curious for more - so that you can be seen as a leader in your sector, and not just another presentation they feel obligated to attend.  

The humanitarian and development sectors are changing and we as leaders need to understand how our roles are changing in order to make the most impact.   In this episode, we dive into the essential strategies leaders need to consider for enhancing equity, resilience, and accountability in global development organizations. With insights from Christine Sow, CEO of Humentum, listeners will learn practical approaches to overcoming bureaucratic bottlenecks and fostering a healthy organizational ecosystem. This discussion is particularly relevant for those struggling with operational inefficiencies and seeking to become better leaders for their teams. In this episode you will: Gain actionable strategies for building an agile and resilient organization that can swiftly adapt to external and internal shocks without compromising core values. Learn how to cultivate a values-driven organizational culture, where principles guide everyday decisions and interactions. Discover effective ways to shift power dynamics within your organization, empowering teams and promoting equity at every level. Tune in now to unlock the secrets of operational excellence and transformative leadership in the humanitarian and development sectors— and start revolutionizing your organization today! Resources mentioned: Humentum Website Report: Cultivating a Healthy Global Development Ecosystem

Office gossip can be very damaging to a team and organization, not to mention the reputation of yourself and others!  Gossip can lead to low staff morale, feelings of mistrust, and even problems with staff retention.  It is therefore essential that we understand how to recognize gossip, what it is and why it happens.  In this episode I share this as well as five ways you can turn the toxicity created by gossip into an opportunity to reinforce a culture of trust, open communication and respect with your team.   - Originally published June 2019

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 episode 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!

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!

Have you ever found yourself lost in the wilderness, not sure where to go or how to get there, surrounded by the unknown and potential danger? Just like navigating unfamiliar territory, defining and achieving impactful goals in humanitarian and development work can feel like wandering without direction. Without a clear vision, leaders risk inefficiency, aimlessness, and missed opportunities for positive change. Discovering the roadmap to impactful leadership is crucial in today's complex world, where every decision can make a difference in the lives of many. In this episode, you will learn: Insight into the importance of defining personal impact goals as leaders in humanitarian and development work. Strategies for identifying strengths, values, and areas of excitement to fuel impactful leadership. Techniques for setting clear and measurable goals to track progress and ensure meaningful outcomes.  Ready to chart your course towards impactful leadership? Tune in now to learn how defining your vision can be the first step in navigating the wilderness of humanitarian and development work.