Leading Through Crisis with Dr. Samantha Nutt

Storytelling and demonstrating impact can mobilize support.

\"I knew you wouldn't forget us. I knew you would come. And that's what it's all about.\"

• Use personal stories to illustrate impact.
• Build trust through consistent engagement.
• Highlight successes to motivate continued support.

Perseverance is key to overcoming obstacles and achieving sustained success.

\"The one thing that war teaches you is that nothing is permanent. Everything that we have can change for better or for worse.\"

• Stay committed despite challenges.
• Adapt to changes while keeping goals in sight.
• Recognize that persistence leads to progress.

Effective prioritization ensures impactful use of limited resources.

\"We are obviously under a tremendous amount of pressure to be everywhere all at once, and you can spread yourself too thin.\"

• Focus on areas where you have the most impact.
• Assess strategic value before committing resources.
• Manage expectations and communicate priorities.

Building resilience involves adaptability and strategic partnerships.

\"We have been fortunate that despite, or maybe because of what we are witnessing, that we have had great partnerships... It will never replace the void of the of USAID's withdrawal, never.\"

• Develop strong networks to mitigate external risks.
• Adapt operations to changing environments.
• Continuously seek innovative solutions to challenges.

Leading with empathy and recognizing team efforts keeps morale high.

\"It's often not the things that you would imagine that are frustrating... What frustrates me and what enrages me all the time is that you see those gains, you can prove that it works.\"

• Communicate successes to the team to reinforce impact.
• Acknowledge challenges openly to foster trust.
• Keep the team aligned with the mission's importance.

Working with local partners ensures effectiveness and avoids duplication of services.

\"We will look at it from a number of different perspectives. The first one is, do we have expertise in the region that would be added value in this context, or are there other organizations that are already doing a fantastic job.\"

• Evaluate existing local expertise before entering a market.
• Collaborate to leverage local strengths.
• Avoid redundancy by partnering with effective organizations.

Effective negotiation skills are essential, even with challenging partners, to fulfill organizational objectives.

\"Sometimes you have to hold your nose and you have to be diplomatic and you have to negotiate with people that you fundamentally disagree with.\"

• Prioritize mission over personal disagreements.
• Use diplomacy to navigate complex stakeholder relationships.
• Focus on common goals to achieve desired outcomes.

Staying true to mission helps organizations navigate adversity and maintain impact over time.

\"Nothing will ever change if we just allow the present to erase the progress of the past.\"

• Perseverance in mission reinforces organizational purpose.
• Continuity is key in effecting long-term change.
• Adapt strategies while maintaining core values.

Strategic expansion requires careful evaluation to ensure alignment with organizational capabilities and needs.

\"Sometimes it will take us a couple of years to identify our staff, identify our partners, to build up that capacity to develop our strategy in conjunction with other organizations that are on the ground because we don't want to duplicate services.\"

• Assess expertise and value-add before entering new markets.
• Avoid spreading resources too thin by focusing on core strengths.
• Ensure operations can meet organizational standards before committing.

Adapting to funding challenges requires diversifying income streams and building strong partnerships.

\"We have been fortunate that despite, or maybe because of what we are witnessing, that we have had great partnerships with foundations, with corporate partners, with other government funders...\"

• Seek alternative funding sources like foundations and corporate partners.
• Build resilience by not relying on a single funding entity.
• Maintain mission focus even during financial constraints.