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As a leader who wants to strengthen your team, sometimes you need to teach them, and sometimes you need to coach them. There is a time for each - either your team member needs information to take action (training) versus needing self-reflection (coaching). I see many frustrated leaders who think they need to teach something - yet again - for someone to take action when in reality what's blocking them is something deeper, such as lack of confidence or motivation. Understanding when to use coaching versus teaching can save you a lot of frustration and help your team become stronger faster.  This is what we discuss in today's episode.

It's that time of the year!   If you're like many of the supervisors I know, you are probably delaying having them. Performance planning conversations! These conversations are one of the most important discussions of the year, but many of us see them as a "have to do" and not a "want to do". Why is that? From my experience, it's not that performance planning conversations are bad. It's that we are not doing them effectively. An effective performance planning discussion should leave you and your team motivated and excited. In this episode I share simple things you can do to have more productive and motivating performance planning discussions. Conversations that you look forward to having - and your team too.  

As a leader you influence the level of diversity on your team. Allowing greater diversity results in your team contributing ideas and more innovation. And greater contribution/ideas = greater impact. In this episode we explore the story of Little Richard, an African American performer who despite many obstacles was able to be himself, resulting in him becoming one of the most influential people on rock and roll. So what allowed Little Richard to do so well, and what can you do as a leader to encourage diversity on your team?   Listen to find out. Resources mentioned: Little Richard: I Am Everything documentary  

There are many ways to lead in the international development and humanitarian sectors. Whether it's by using a coach approach leadership style or by mentoring others, there are many ways to demonstrate leadership that benefit those around us. In this episode guest Fiona Macaulay (Founder of the Women Innovators and Leaders Development Network or WILD Network) shares how this year's WILD Forum will fulfill the theme "Lead at Every Level, Everywhere." We discuss how all of us can be better leaders, what to expect from this year's WILD Forum and how to get involved. Resources mentioned: WILD 2024: Women's Global Leadership Forum

How we spend our time each day directly relates to our likelihood of achieving our goals. If we spend our time on what I call "empty calorie tasks" we will probably not change or grow much. But if we prioritize high quality tasks related to our goals, we will more likely achieve them. Understanding how to prioritize our time so we achieve our goals is one of my 2023 Lessons Learned. In this episode I share a helpful way to make decisions so you are on the path to achieving your 2024 goals.

Are you approaching work from a scarcity mentality or abundance mentality? A scarcity mentality leads to fear, stress and worry. An abundance mentality leads to calm, motivation and inspiration. Over the past year I have learned that approaching things from an abundance mentality not only benefits me but others as well. And it is a lot more enjoyable way to work. Listen to this episode to learn more.

I have taken time over the last few weeks to reflect on my top lessons learned for 2023. These lessons can help you achieve your goals for 2024 - faster and better. I am sharing them in a three part episode - starting with how I have learned to not rely only on one or two ways of reaching a goal. If you want to grow more as a leader, this lesson will help you greatly increase your chances of doing so.  

Asking your team "how can I help?" is a great way to show your support. But knowing when to ask this question can make it more helpful to your team member - and ultimately to you as a leader too. In this episode I explore the best way to ask "how can I help you?" as a supervisor in order to empower your team and not keep them from growing.

Most of us prefer working for a leader who we feel cares for us over one who only cares about results.   Many research studies confirm the same: empathetic leaders create higher performing and more motivated teams. Chances are if you're listening to this you are already a caring leader, but there is an opportunity that many leaders overlook which is so simple and yet goes a long way when you want to demonstrate caring for your team.  In this episode I share this simple thing you can start doing immediately, and how it may reveal things you did not even know which can create a happier, more motivated team that creates more impact.

If you find yourself saying things like "my team knows not to follow my bad example (working long hours, for example)" then this episode is for you. So many humanitarian and development leaders I work with think they are the "exception to the rule".  That is that their team does not follow their unhealthy work style.   But how true is that really? From my experience, it's not. In this episode I show you how you are influencing your team's behavior more than you think, and what may motivate you to change it.

You have a lot on your to do list.  Between all the meetings, email and your everyday obligations, things get busy fast! And yet, one of our most important priorities as supervisors can be one of the ones we delay doing the most - that is developing our team. How can you find time to develop your team while also keeping your other priorities? Listen to this episode to find out! Resources mentioned: - How to do a Time Audit (from previous episode How Will You be Remembered as a Leader Part One)

How have you done achieving your annual goals? Sometimes it feels like there's some magic formula that we are missing which will allow us to achieve our goals. Thankfully, that's not true. Achieving our goals comes down to one thing. And that is: how we have prioritized our time. The way we use our time compounded leads us to the results we have today. The good news is that means you can make a change. If you choose to use your time on the things that will result in a stronger team or you as a stronger leader, you can achieve it. One obstacle that I see humanitarian and development leaders create for themselves is the idea that later will be better. After I finish this proposal, or donor visit, or final report, or whatever... THEN I will have the time. But that is just not true. There will always be things to do. Things that make you "busy". So knowing this, how can you prioritize what you know will make the most impact? Learn more in this episode.   Resources mentioned: Not Enough Time and Later Is Better