The Modern Humanitarian and Development Leader: Make a Greater Impact by Creating a High Performance Team while Avoiding Stress and Overwhelm

Have you ever felt excited to create change in your organization — only to lose momentum when things got hard, people resisted, or no one else seemed to believe in your vision?If you’ve ever started strong but struggled to stay consistent as a leader, this episode is for you. Many NGO leaders begin with bold ideas and clear intentions, but when challenges arise, doubt creeps in and the vision fades. This week, you’ll learn why commitment — not motivation — is what separates those who make a lasting impact from those who simply get by, and how to keep going even when it feels lonely.By listening, you’ll discover:How to tell if you’re truly committed to your vision — or just interested in it.The mindset shift that helps you follow through when motivation disappears.Practical ways to stay dedicated to your goals, even when others question or resist your ideas.Press play now to learn how unwavering commitment can turn your leadership vision into a reality that inspires lasting change in your organization.Watch on YouTube Now!What Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.  To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit. This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Do you ever find yourself waiting for your organization to finally change - to take wellbeing seriously, to stop glorifying overwork - before you feel ready to lead differently?If so, you’re not alone. Many NGO leaders feel trapped in outdated cultures and exhausting work habits, hoping that once their organization “catches up,” things will improve. But what if waiting is exactly what’s keeping you stuck? In this episode, you’ll learn why true leadership begins when you decide to go first - and how courage, not permission, is what drives meaningful change in teams and organizations.By listening, you’ll discover:The surprising reason most NGO leaders hold back from creating change - and how to overcome it.How to use courage to lead differently, even when no one else around you is ready.Practical ways to take small, bold actions that inspire others and begin transforming your team and culture.Press play now to learn how one courageous choice can break old patterns, spark real change, and set you apart as a modern NGO leader.Watch on YouTubeWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.  To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit. This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

When everything around you feels unstable — shrinking budgets, shifting priorities, constant change — do you find yourself feeling defeated, or do you rise stronger from the challenge?As a humanitarian or development leader, you’re constantly navigating uncertainty. But while most conversations about resilience focus on the communities you serve, this episode turns the spotlight on you — the leader behind it all. You’ll learn why some leaders thrive under pressure while others burn out, and how a simple but powerful mindset shift can help you stay grounded, confident, and effective, no matter what’s happening around you.By listening, you’ll discover:The critical mindset difference between leaders who stay resilient and those who crumble under stress.How to turn setbacks into growth opportunities that strengthen your leadership and your team.A practical reflection tool that helps you move from feeling like a victim of your circumstances to becoming the hero of your leadership story.Listen now to learn how to build true resilience — so you can face every challenge with clarity, confidence, and purpose.Watch on YouTubeWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.  To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit. This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Do you ever feel like your team can’t move forward without you — that every decision, question, or problem somehow ends up back on your plate?If you’re constantly answering questions, solving problems, and feeling more like a manager than a leader, you may be unintentionally holding your team back. This episode explores how shifting from “having all the answers” to empowering others can free up your time, build trust, and create a team that thinks — and acts — independently.In this episode, you’ll learn:A simple mindset shift that transforms dependency into ownership and initiative.Why managing instead of leading creates stress — and how to reverse it.A powerful, step-by-step conversation tool you can start using today to help your team solve their own problems with confidence.Press play now to discover how empowering instead of managing can lighten your load, strengthen your team, and make you a more effective, inspiring leader.Watch on YouTubeWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   Tofind out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit. This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Do you ever end your day exhausted, inbox overflowing, and still feel like you’ve barely made progress on what really matters?If that sounds familiar, you might be suffering from High Performance Syndrome — a hidden trap that affects nearly every NGO leader. It’s what keeps you busy but not productive, constantly “on” for your team, chasing perfection, and running on a treadmill that leads to burnout instead of real impact. In this episode, you’ll learn why this mindset is so common in the humanitarian and development sector — and how to break free from it so you can finally lead with focus and ease.Here’s what you’ll gain from tuning in:The ability to recognize the subtle beliefs and habits that drive overwork and dependency in your team.Practical mindset shifts that free up your time and energy for what truly creates impact.A simple process to reframe “I have to be available all the time” into a healthier, more effective way of leading.Hit play now to uncover how letting go of High Performance Syndrome can help you work less, lead better, and create the impact you’ve always aimed for.WATCH ON YOUTUBE HEREWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.  To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Will you finish your current leadership role having achieved the impact you set out to create — or will you leave wondering what actually changed?If you often end days buried in email and back-to-back meetings, feeling drained but unsure whether anything you did really mattered, this episode is for you. It compares two leader types — one who thrives and achieves lasting impact, and one who burns out while getting short-term results — and shows why aligning daily actions (not just ambitions) and shifting your mindset are the missing links between busy work and meaningful leadership.Listen to learn how to:Spot the everyday habits that steal your time and keep you misaligned with your leadership impact.Use a simple alignment check (like a daily compass) to make small choices that add up to big, lasting results.Reframe the beliefs that drive reactive behavior so you can act like the future leader you want to become — energized, focused, and fulfilled.Tap play to discover the practical alignment habits and mindset shifts that will help you turn busy weeks into measurable leadership impact.WATCH ON YOUTUBEWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.  To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit. This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Have you ever reached the end of a work week feeling completely drained — yet unsure if anything you did truly made an impact?If you’ve been working harder than ever but still feel like you’re not growing as the kind of leader you aspire to be, you’re not alone. Many humanitarian and development leaders struggle with being busy but not productive — constantly reacting to others’ agendas instead of intentionally creating lasting impact. This episode dives into why that happens and what you can do to break the cycle.In this episode, you’ll discover:The hidden signs that you’re lacking clarity — and how they keep you stuck in burnout and frustration.How clarity can energize you and your team to focus on what truly matters and make meaningful progress.A real-life story of how one leader’s clarity transformed an entire team’s culture and engagement.Press play now to learn how gaining clarity can help you lead with focus, motivation, and purpose — and finally start creating the impact you’ve always envisioned.WATCH ON YOUTUBE HEREWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Have you ever felt like no matter how much you give to your work, you’re still running behind—constantly deciding everything for your team and ending each day exhausted?If you’re an NGO or humanitarian leader who feels overworked, overwhelmed, or stuck in the daily grind, this episode will help you shift from burnout to balance. You’ll learn a simple, powerful framework designed specifically for leaders like you—those who want to make a bigger impact without losing themselves in the process.In this episode, you’ll discover:How to gain crystal-clear direction so you and your team know exactly where you’re headed.Why letting go of control can actually make you a stronger, more effective leader.The secret to building a resilient mindset that helps you manage stress, stay grounded, and thrive in demanding environments.Press play now to uncover the CLEAR Leadership Model and start leading with more focus, trust, and energy today.Watch on Youtube HereWhat Is Your Leadership Style? Free Quiz: Want to know how to lead better? It starts by understanding your leadership style. To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader. Just click on the link, fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Have you ever given your team full independence on a project—only to be disappointed with the results?Many NGO leaders fall into the trap of thinking empowerment means stepping back completely. But what your team experiences as “independence” can easily feel like abandonment if there’s no structure or support. This episode explores how you can strike the right balance, so your team feels trusted and empowered while still delivering the quality outcomes you expect.By listening, you’ll learn:The common myth that causes leaders to fail at creating truly independent teams.A simple framework of four steps that helps you give more independence without sacrificing accountability.How to make your leadership more strategic—guiding your team like a pilot adjusting course—so they stay aligned and supported while they grow in confidence and responsibility.Press play now to discover the four steps that will transform how you empower your team—while ensuring they deliver results you can trust.Find Episode on YouTube HereWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz: Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit. This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity. 

Do you believe that taking notes during one-on-one meetings makes you a more attentive leader? What if it’s actually doing the opposite?In this episode, we challenge the widely accepted habit of note taking during one-on-ones—especially among humanitarian and development leaders—and explore how it might be silently damaging trust, connection, and communication with your team. If you’ve ever felt disconnected or like your team isn’t opening up, this might be the missing piece.In this episode you’ll discover:Why multitasking—even something as “small” as jotting down notes—breaks presence and leads to poor listening.Learn powerful, practical strategies to stay fully present without sacrificing important information.Walk away with a new approach that improves trust, communication, and the quality of your team’s problem-solving.Press play now to learn how dropping the pen could be the key to becoming a more trusted and impactful leader!NOW ON YOUTUBEWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Are you leading a remote team scattered across cities or continents—and struggling to build trust, drive performance, or just keep things flowing?Remote leadership isn't new for NGO leaders, but the challenges have evolved—and so must your leadership approach. Whether you're dealing with field offices you rarely see or trying to help your team stay focused in a world of distractions, this episode dives deep into the real solutions for leading at a distance. My guest today Steven Puri of the Sukha Company will share his unique perspective from the film industry on how to build high performing teams while leading remotely.In this episode you’ll discover:How hiring the right people solves 90% of your remote leadership challenges.Learn how to protect focus time and encourage deep work for breakthrough thinking.Get actionable tips to build trust and create team alignment—even across time zones.Tune into this episode and walk away with practical strategies to lead a productive, mission-aligned remote team that thrives—no matter where they are in the world.Resources Mentioned:The Sukha CompanySteven Puri’s email - steven@thesukha.coNOW ON YOUTUBEWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Have you ever wondered why two people can experience the exact same moment—and walk away feeling completely different?As a humanitarian or development leader, you’re tasked with managing people through uncertainty, change, and challenge. But what if your team’s biggest roadblock isn’t the workload or logistics—it’s the thoughts behind their emotions? This episode dives into the psychology behind emotional responses and how your mindset might be shaping your results more than you realize.In this episode, you'll discover:How to interpret emotions as “road signs” that reveal hidden thoughts and beliefs.Learn a coaching technique to help your team shift from self-doubt to self-belief using curiosity.Gain clarity on how to lead with confidence by transforming the way you relate to both your emotions and your team’s.Listen now to uncover the mindset shift modern leaders use to create confident teams and stronger outcomes—starting with one emotion at a time.NOW ON YOUTUBEBecoming the Modern Humanitarian and Development Leader CourseWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Do you ever catch yourself thinking, “I already know this”? What if that exact thought is quietly sabotaging your leadership growth?This episode explores one of the most damaging yet subtle mindsets that can derail even the most well-intentioned leaders: the assumption that you’ve already mastered the basics. Whether you’re managing a team, running a project, or simply trying to grow as a professional, ignoring the fundamentals could be costing you clarity, impact, and respect.In this episode you'll discover:Why curiosity is more than just a trait—it’s a leadership superpower.Learn how to overcome the mental trap of “I already know that” to unlock deeper listening, more effective feedback, and real-time growth.Understand the importance of revisiting foundational skills like listening and questioning—especially if you think you’ve already got them mastered.Listen now to uncover how embracing curiosity and relearning the basics can elevate your leadership to the next level.NOW ON YOUTUBEWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Are you unknowingly using a leadership style that’s demotivating your team—even when you think you’re being helpful?In today’s episode, we explore how your default leadership approach might be limiting your team’s potential. If you're an NGO leader trying to shift out of emergency mode and into long-term, impactful leadership, this episode will help you understand the often overlooked balance between control and autonomy—and why it matters more than ever. And I demonstrate it through my latest favorite cooking show.In this episode you'll discover:Learn the difference between directive and people-centered leadership styles and when to use each one effectivelyDiscover how a cooking competition (yes, really) perfectly illustrates the consequences of poor leadership balanceGain actionable insight on how to lead with clarity, confidence, and calm—without micromanaging or disappearingTune in now to learn how to balance your leadership style and finally unlock your team’s full potential as a modern NGO leader.NOW ON YOUTUBEWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Have you ever wondered how much of your daily frustration comes from assumptions—not reality?In this episode, we dive into the unconscious stories we tell ourselves that shape how we act, react, and lead. These mental narratives may seem harmless, but they often influence our decisions, damage our confidence, and limit our leadership growth.In this episode you'll discover:A powerful question that can instantly shift your perspective and decision-making.How small mindset shifts can unlock new outcomes in your professional and personal life.Try a simple weekly exercise to identify and challenge limiting stories so you can lead more intentionally.Listen now to uncover how challenging one internal story could change everything in your leadership journey.NOW ON YOUTUBEWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

How might you be sabotaging your ability to develop a high performance team, without even realizing it?In this episode, we challenge the belief that time and patience are what’s holding you back from empowering your team. The real issue? You might be leading from your present self, not your future self — and it’s affecting your growth as a modern humanitarian leader.In this episode you'll discover:Why lack of vision — not time — is the true block to leadership development.Learn how acting from your future self can transform how your team shows up.Understand how small daily decisions can help you build the confident, independent team you’ve always wanted.Press play now to shift your leadership mindset and finally start building the team you’ve envisioned for your future.Now on Youtube!What Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Are you unknowingly the reason your team won’t take initiative?If you’re a modern humanitarian or development leader frustrated with your team’s lack of proactivity, the problem might not be them—it could be how you've unknowingly trained them. This episode explores how your leadership style may be limiting your team’s growth and autonomy.In this episode you'll discover:The subtle ways you may be creating a productivity bottleneck without realizing itLearn how to retrain your team to become more solution-oriented and confidentUnderstand the difference between top-down and coaching leadership styles—and when to use each for better outcomesListen now to start shifting your leadership approach and empower your team to step up with more autonomy and innovation.What Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Could the way you're asking questions be quietly holding your team back?If your team feels dependent, unmotivated, or stuck in old patterns, it might not be a skills issue—it could be your leadership questions. This episode explores how the quality of your questions, not just your instructions, may be the hidden factor limiting your team's development and confidence.In this episode you'll discover:Discover 5 clear signs your questions are unintentionally demotivating your teamLearn what makes a low-quality question—and how to instantly shift it into a high-quality oneUnderstand the neuroscience-backed reason great questions can boost productivity and reduce stressListen now to learn how asking better questions can unlock your team’s potential—and make your leadership feel a whole lot easier.NOW ON YOUTUBEWhat Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Do you feel like no matter how much you achieve, it's never enough?If you're a humanitarian or development leader constantly focused on what's next—without pausing to reflect on what you’ve already accomplished—you're likely stuck on the “goal treadmill.” This episode introduces a powerful mindset shift that allows you to stay motivated and find fulfillment while you work toward your goals.In this episode you'll discover:The critical difference between "gap thinking" and "gain thinking"Learn how to measure your progress in a way that boosts satisfaction and motivationExplore practical reflection tools to help you celebrate small and big wins consistentlyHit play to uncover how modern leaders are transforming the way they pursue goals—and why it's making their work (and life) more meaningful.What Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

Are you stuck in survival mode, managing your team under pressure while feeling like you're always chasing results?In today’s fast-changing humanitarian world, traditional leadership methods are no longer enough. With limited resources, constant change, and burnout on the rise, it's time to evolve. This episode explores the shift from results-driven to people-centered leadership—and why it's critical for creating real, lasting impact.In this episode you'll discover:4 essential qualities every modern humanitarian leader must embodyLearn how to develop your team while getting your time backA few ways you can start becoming a modern NGO leader todayPress play now to start becoming the kind of leader your team actually wants to follow—without burning yourself out in the process.What Is Your Leadership Style?  Free Quiz:Want to know how to lead better?  It starts by understanding your leadership style.   To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader.  Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit.This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.