The Maliasili team lives and breathes organizational and leadership development year-round. We have so many opportunities to work with and learn from outstanding conservation leaders and organizations, and we want to share some of our greatest insights from those experiences - as well as from our own work and team - from 2021 with you. So we asked each member of our team to answer this question:

As you reflect on 2021, what one piece of advice would you share with our partners and similar conservation organizations to help make them stronger?

• Big picture thinking matters. 2021 was a critical year to keep ‘stepping up on the balcony’; it was full of large-scale change, shifts, and crucially important trends. It is always critical to step back and look at the big picture and position your work and organization within that context, and 2021 drove that home time and time again. - Fred
  

• Plan and plan again. This is an old piece of advice from my father-in-law: Measure twice and cut once. Before you jump into something - send out that message, finalize a plan, or commit to something - take a moment to pause, be sure you have considered what you need to do carefully and then decide how to go forward. We can apply this advice to all sorts of aspects of our lives. - Anna
  

• Include your team in your planning. This is a great way to crowdsource work, and it's also a great way to get buy-in from your team - the more they're included in budgeting, strategic planning, work planning, the more they'll feel involved and committed to the work. - Janelle
  

• Stretch your thinking. The world is not a table; you won't fall off the edge. When you are willing to explore as far as your imagination and abilities allow you, you will discover others who are doing similar work, face the same challenges and have solved or are in the process of solving the same challenges as you. Be willing to dare to go beyond what everyone assigns as safe for you. - Njenga
  

• Be human. As leaders, we should never underestimate the impact we have on people. Teams need to see the human side of you. Let us remember that we influence the work they do and how they feel treated. It requires authentic leadership to be vulnerable and lead humanely, and therefore have more impact on people's experiences, their commitment and performance. - Richard
  

• Take the time to reflect. There is always going to be the urgency to act, innovate, and do more. But where can we really make a difference? How can we learn from what we, and others, have already done so we can have the most impact with our interventions? The time we spend focusing and refining our work pays off in what we can achieve. - Kasmira
  

• Reflect to improve. Think deeply, ask widely, behave compassionately, be bold, act decisively. As we think back on 2021 and ponder our work for 2022, think and reflect deeply about the year and where you want to go as an organization. Consult with as many people and sources as possible to get feedback on your work and to inform future decisions. Continue to act compassionately with staff, partners and stakeholders; dream big and don't limit yourself. Once you've decided on a course of action - go for it! - Akshay
  

• Go slow to go fast. "Milamina dia misesy" - is a Malagasy phrase my mom uses a lot to help manage stress and deadlines. Like the Daoist philosophy of flow, we should take things slowly (or step-by-step) to progress efficiently. It requires facing what awaits us, being realistic with our deadlines and the amount of work needed for our tasks, and not rushing things to get them done. It applies not only to ourselves but also to everyone involved. - Marianne
  

• Don't be shy to tell your story. You are doing great work and achieving significant impact. You are helping shape the future of people, wildlife, landscapes and ecosystems. You should be proud of your accomplishments and continuously find ways to share them with the rest of the world. - Wanjiku
  

• You're not alone. Make an effort to connect with others who work in your field. Talk about your work, your challenges, and your plans together. It doesn't have to be formal (probably shouldn't be). Instead, grab a coffee (in person or over Zoom) and ask them for advice and offer to give your support. You'll quickly discover others have or are going through similar things as you. - Jessie
  

• Play to strengths. It pays to build a team culture where individuals play to their strengths. As a leader, be observant enough to determine team members' strengths and as much as possible allocate responsibilities according to these strengths, and encourage team members to support one another according to their strengths. However, do encourage team members to get stronger in their weaker areas by taking on responsibilities outside their comfort zones. This is where real growth happens. - Beatrice
  

• "Time management is life management." This quote struck me recently. We all know the big goals we want to achieve each year, but how well we spend the days, hours and minutes in each week determines if and when we actually reach those goals. Being busy doesn't necessarily lead to big results. Think about how you spend your time; decide which tasks matter most to you and your organization; and drop or delegate the rest. - Cara
  

• Listen. This year, as a creative, I realized it's not always about new ideas but more about connecting the dots and listening deeply. I recently read - "you don't have to have great ideas if you can hear great ideas." Let your ears lead you as you problem-solve… Your team and the people who give your work purpose are full of gems. Keep listening. You have everything you need. - Niki
  

• Be curious and learn. Remember to look from side to side and not only straight ahead. Take in information from your peripheral vision - things that are going on alongside your busy life - insights from colleagues in other fields, interesting "reads" in social media, papers, magazines and journals. Be holistic in your thinking as none of us and no one in our field of work is an island unto themselves. Our future success will depend on inclusive, collaborative and collective action. Get started on a new way of thinking and acting for the benefit of all! - Holly
  

• Your team is your most important asset. They drive your organization, work in the field and inspire your donors to support you. A strong team will make your organization more effective and have a lasting impact wherever you work. - Gathoni
  

• Know your purpose. Be crystal clear about your vision and core purpose - when you focus on what you do best and what will have the most impact, the funding will find you! - Karine
  

• Focus. There can be an abundance of need and opportunities, but being sharply focused on your purpose can help you set yourself up for success. Better to do a few things really well than a lot of disparate activities without enough resources to get the results you want. - Elizabeth
  

• Take the time to invest in growth. The work you do is important and urgent. It can be hard to find time to think about how you want to develop and grow because ‘there is no time’. Your passion for what you do is what brought you here, and you have done great so far. But if you want to continue having impact, you need to create space for growth. Be bold and invest in yourself and your team. Fill your cup so you can continue to fill others. - Joana
  

• Encourage teamwork. Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. Teamwork is so important that it is virtually impossible for you to reach the heights of your capabilities, or achieve the impact you want, without becoming very good at it. - Dominic
  

• Leadership and followership: So much emphasis is placed on leadership, but we are also followers. Indeed, for most of us, playing essential support roles is what takes up most of our time. Without intelligence, critical thinking, and enthusiastic participation behind a strong cause, our conservation work would go nowhere. - Liz

For more content like this - sign up to the ‘Maliasili Reader,’ a bi-weekly round-up of our favorite links, tips, and ideas to help conservation organizations thrive.