A vivid memory from my first program officer job: I found myself feeling like a fraud.
I had the technical knowledge to do the work. I had the right intellectual training and had developed “chops” working in the trenches of an innovative public-private housing venture. Nonetheless, I was...
You can do one of these exercises or all of them. Either way, each time ask yourself “What am I aware of now that I was not aware of before?” Write that down. “What might I do differently next time I’m in that situation?” Write that down.
1. Pay attention not only to what happened but...
What’s your hardy perennial dilemma at work? Read why practitioners value reflective practices for navigating their dilemmas. Review the case for making reflective practice a required discipline in philanthropy.
How do you process your internal reactions and signals before you jump to help others? Learn techniques from philanthropy practitioners that have helped create an environment for learning on both individual and systems levels.
Looking for a more participatory way to get advice on dilemmas at work? This practice takes conversations around the “water cooler” to their next level. Read about a technique for getting and sharing advice that can be a game changer for everyone involved.
What happens when you reach an impasse in dialogues? Sometimes words are an "aide-de-camp" to sustain attention to what’s hard to talk about with others. Read about the use of images, metaphors, stories and poems in philanthropy.
What roles are most important to your work? How do you construct them and bring your unique talents to the role? How do you manage your personal challenges in the role? Borrow a few techniques from fellow practitioners described in this brief.
