In the conservation and environmental sector, our work depends on people. And people are emotional beings who require support, connection, and relationships. Yet, we often overlook this critical part of our work as leaders and instead focus on what we consider strategic. In this Reader, discover the components of emotional intelligence, and how it can help us to be better leaders with real-life scenarios as examples.
Read MoreCulture is dynamic and is both an individual and shared experience between team members. Creating a healthy culture - building, shaping and adapting it - requires consistent, long-term effort and intention. In our experience, there are some building blocks that make the foundation for building a healthy organizational culture. In this Reader, some of our team members explore some of these blocks, which are often interconnected and influence each other.
Read MoreOrganizational culture shapes how people behave, collaborate, and ultimately function as a team. It is the key to keeping teams engaged and productive, as well as attracting top talent to the organization. A thriving organizational culture unites people and keeps them aligned. In this Reader, some of our key portfolio team members reflect on this critical aspect of organizational dynamics, providing examples and scenarios of how culture manifests.
Read MoreFinding the right balance between professional responsibilities and personal well-being is crucial in our fast-paced and demanding work environments. Setting goals for your year should not just include what you want to achieve in the office. At Maliasili, we understand the significance of having personal goals alongside our work objectives, recognizing their equal importance. As we kick off the first Reader of 2024, we're excited to share examples of these goals with you, aiming to inspire and encourage you to contemplate your own personal and professional aspirations!
Read MoreAt the African Community Conservation Forum we convened two months ago, there was an essential session on building diverse and inclusive organizations. This Reader spotlights the different strategies a diverse group of conservation leaders identified to move from talk to action.
Read MoreMany leaders struggle to understand where to start or how to properly invest in their teams. This Reader explores that and provides practical tips on how to get it done.
Read MoreConservation success cannot be achieved by a singular organization or individual. It requires partnerships and collaborations at various levels and with diverse organizations. This Reader highlights what causes partnerships to fail, and most importantly, top tips on how to make them succeed.
Read MoreConservation contains a complex web of power dynamics. They often go unspoken yet they significantly influence the success or failure of conservation organizations and initiatives. In this Reader, we delve into the multifaceted ways power shows up within organizations, and amongst various stakeholders. We also explore how African conservation leaders and organizations can use power to do better.
Read MoreThis Reader explores the African philosophies of Ubuntu and the lessons it has for conservation and environmental organizations.
Read MoreChange is inevitable when organizations grow. At Maliasili, we love using a simple framework to help us and our partners understand and manage the change process: the four rooms of change. These rooms - contentment, denial, confusion, and renewal - can help individuals and teams go through change more comfortably and clearly, making it less painful or scary. It can make change more exciting.
Read MoreRetreats and gatherings are important because they allow team members to strengthen their bond, improve collaboration, learn from each other, and cultivate a positive work culture. Maliasili recently held our annual retreat, so we used that opportunity to source some advice and tips from our team on running an effective gathering.
Read MoreLearning exchanges provide an opportunity for people to see what others in their line of work are doing and how to share their own knowledge and expertise. When done well, learning exchanges can help organizations get inspired and think differently about their work, ultimately improving their approach and greater long-term impact.
In this Reader, Anna Davis, our Director of Leadership Programs, Karine Nuulimba, our Southern Africa Portfolio Director, and the team from Blue Ventures, an organization that excels at running exchanges, present a collection of insightful ideas to help inspire your next trip.
For conservation leaders and many other professionals, LinkedIn serves as a valuable tool. However, you may be wondering about the specific ways in which this platform could benefit you and your organization. Here, we share an overview of the platform with top tips on how to use it to network, develop a profile, build your brand, and get your messages heard.
Read MoreWe could all use a lot more ‘easier’ in our lives, especially in the complex field of community conservation. Fortunately, we have a solution for you: great facilitation. Effective facilitation of meetings, gatherings, and processes can help to increase productivity, foster collaboration, improve decision-making, build trust, and prevent or resolve conflicts. We’re not making this up: to ‘facilitate’ means to make an action or process easy or easier.
Read MoreMeetings can sometimes take up too much of your time. But we also know that when done right, they can save you time in the long run, e.g. with quick consensus and decision-making or with new ideas to help you do your work better. But to be better than an email, meetings require time and preparation to get right. Here we share top tips that will help.
Read MoreAt the beginning of the year, Maliasili’s CEO, Fred Nelson, shared some thoughts with our team to help us all focus on goals and performance for the year ahead. This Reader features some of the key points he shared.
Read MoreThe end of the year is a busy time for many conservation organizations. It’s easy to get caught up in the flurry of activities, so we’re focusing this Reader on why it matters to pause and celebrate your team and your successes.
Read MoreLeadership abilities are important in every role. Even if you don't have management or supervision responsibilities, how you act and engage with people can make you a true leader that delivers results and creates impact. In this Reader, we share advice and tips on gaining confidence and leading, even if you’re not the boss.
Read MoreDo you feel compelled to mold yourself to fit into your work or professional setting? You’re not alone. Showing up in the workplace as who you are - regardless of age, background, gender, experience, religion, work preferences and habits - is easier said than done. This Reader explores why authenticity in a professional setting matters, and tips on how to show up as the best, real version of yourself.
Read MoreAll leaders know they cannot lead forever. But few put in the time or effort to think critically about what a successful transition process would look like. In this Reader, we cover the often ignored but extremely essential topic of leadership transition (aka: succession planning). We get first-hand advice from an organization’s founder and former CEO who recently managed her own leadership transition, as well as insights from an organization that intentionally changes its leadership every several years.
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