RAFT

This month’s podcast features Grace Harvey, who recently stepped away from advocacy work and was surprised to see her advocacy skills transferred to work in a completely different field. If you think you need a change but are hesitant to look for something new, Grace has an encouraging message to share with you.

00:00 Intro
01:13 Grace’s Origin story
04:34 Grace shares why she left the advocacy field
08:00 How Grace’s life has changed & the positive impacts of leaving advocacy
12:30 What is it like working a job where you’re not advocating?
18:30 Finding a new job after leaving the advocacy field & the transferable skills
20:15 Task prioritization & time management
24:35 Good communication skills & adapting to your audience
28:40 Attention to detail & guidelines
32:35 Problem-solving skills
36:32 Finding what you’re doing in your current work & turning it into a resume skill
40:43 Grace’s final thoughts

In this episode, the RAFT team is joined by our Founder, Indrani Goradia, to discuss our “Why?” Inspired by Simon Sinek’s theory of starting with your “Why?” to help connect your work to your purpose in a meaningful way.

00:00 Intro
00:24 Nicole introduction – Explains inspiration for Podcast
02:40 Maegan introduction – Shares strengths/value statement
03:22 Indrani introduction – Shares why she started RAFT/core values
05:00 Nicole’s core values
07:04 Mariam introduction – Shares her why for joining & growing with RAFT
08:09 Joy introduction – Shares her strengths & her why
09:28 Sophie Introduction – Shares strengths & her why
11:45 Nicole shares why connection is important to her
13:13 Mariam shares why data and research is important to her
14:21 Maegan shares why growth & process mapping is important to her
16:23 Indrani talks about strengths – how to recognize them, how to use them
21:32 Joy shares why love of learning & kindness is important to her
22:21 Indrani, Nicole, & Joy speak on Kindness & Empathy for ourselves
30:36 Mariam – How RAFT answers her “Why”
30:48 Maegan – How RAFT answers her “Why”
32:19 Sophie – How RAFT answers her “Why”
33:09 Joy – How RAFT answers her “Why”
36:07 Thanks for listening!

Today we welcome Joy Ingram to our team as a new workshop facilitator and learn a little about her background. Join RAFT as we discuss some reasons for high turnover rates within SV/DV advocacy organizations and a few ideas to combat this issue.

00:00 Intro
01:10 Nicole introduces new RAFT team member, Joy
2:45 Joy shares her background and advocate experience
6:45 Joy presented at NCADV in August 2022
9:20 Joy’s workshop experiences
10:00 Why is turnover so high?
11:55 Challenges and Support
13:30 Barriers to support
15:00 Support strategies for organizations
17:55 Why is it difficult to schedule time for support at work?
21:06 We need to prioritize our wellness
22:15 Lunch practices
24:00 Reassessing workplace culture
25:35 Generational impact on turnover
27:05 Boundaries to learn
28:35 Overlapping personal and organizational values
30:30 Outro

Today on the RAFT podcast, Jeremie and Johnanna Ganz continue their discussion about occupational identity and how it connects to leadership and the development of organizational culture.

0:00 Intro
0:45 Johanna reviews what it means to have a strong occupational identity.
2:51 What is “Organizational Culture Development”? How does it relate to leadership?
3:00 Definition of formal and informal organizational culture
4:20 How organizational culture connects to occupational identity management through leadership.
5:36 Johanna shares 6 factors that can promote or prevent the rate of burnout that people experience in an organization.
6:30 Johanna emphasizes the role that leaders play in shaping these 6 factors.
7:01 Discussion.
8:41 How a strong occupational identity amongst advocates and leadership can create an “us” vs. “them” dynamic.
9:41 Johanna discusses 3 factors that can cause this “us” vs. “them” mentality to occur.
13:49 How to better manage and/or alleviate this dynamic.
14:31 Discussion.
16:06 If we know that strong, potentially unhealthy occupational identity exists in an organization, how can that organization ensure that new advocates entering the organization maintain a healthy occupational identity?
17:30 Johanna shares 6 ways that leaders can help promote healthy occupational identity among new advocates in an organization.
23:08 Discussion.
25:00 Johanna and Jeremie discuss what leadership can do for a brand new advocate that comes into an SV/DV organization with an interest in the work but limited experience and/or connection to the movement (both personally and professionally).
27:49 Johanna explains the relationship between micromanagement and occupational identity.
30:00 Johanna shares advice for advocates who might be dealing with a supervisor that struggles with micromanagement.
33:39 Johanna shares advice for leaders who notice micromanagement occurring in their organization.
34:25 Discussion.
37:29 Discussion about the challenges that come with grant reports: Johanna explains 4 ways that leaders can encourage their successful completion.
44:27 Jeremie and Johanna discuss how to change organizational culture and cultivate healthier occupational identities in a field that can be resistant to change because they have operated in one specific way for such a long time.
46:59 Johanna shares tips for creating structural change in the SV/DV field in order to move towards healthier occupational identities.
50:39 Discussion.
53:06 Johanna shares how to get in touch with her and learn more about her work.
54:43 Outro

Today on the RAFT podcast, Nicole and Mariam share their reflections on NCADV’s National Conference on Domestic Violence. This year’s NCADV National Conference Keynote Speaker was Tommi Vincent.

0:00 Intro
1:40 Nicole and Mariam talk about meeting each other in person for the first time and how it felt to connect with so many advocates at the conference.
4:20 Discussion about planning for the conference: Travelling, making time for self-care activities, breaks, navigating the conference schedule, etc.
7:00 Mariam and Nicole discuss their connections to Saint Louis, Missouri: Exploring the city and visiting friends while there.
10:45 Discussion about making time for self-care while at the conference. Knowing when to decline activities in favour of rest or personal time.
13:05 Nicole and Mariam discuss the different workshops they attended at the conference and choosing workshops which interested them specifically.
14:30 “Circle, Square, Triangle” Reflection Tool.
15:11 “Circle” Takeaway: Nicole and Mariam share the questions still circulating in their mind as they reflect on their time at the conference.
19:43 Transition to “Square” Takeaway: Mariam and Nicole discuss what points from the conference reaffirmed what they already think and know about SV/DV work.
27:03 “Triangle” Takeaway: Nicole and Mariam share what takeaways from the conference they hope to implement in their work and life.
31:00 Mariam shares her appreciation for the innovative discussions and topics covered at the conference.
33:05 Nicole discusses the impact of trauma and holding empathy for people who have experienced trauma.
35:51 Final appreciations from the conference.
38:49 Outro

Jeremie and Johnanna conclude their discussion on occupational identity, a state of identifying closely with one’s job. Join RAFT as we learn about how to manage this identity in mission-driven fields, such as SV/DV advocacy.

0:00 Intro
0:26 Johanna shares signs that work relationships might be switching from healthy and functional to unhealthy and dysfunctional
3:00 Discussion about “venting” at work. Johanna shares what “venting” can be reflective of and the harms of venting.
4:55 How to get out of a “venting” mindset: Being a “challenger-listener” vs. “supportive-listener”
6:50 Discussion
7:30 The difference between a feeling and an interpretation of a feeling
8:23 Discussion about interpretations of feelings and how interpretations of feelings show up at work and in everyday life
12:15 Johanna shares tips for feeling less bad about taking time off by focusing on developing a healthy occupational identity
15:45 How time off and rest helps prevent burnout
17:30 Learning to take time off and not feel guilty for it is like training a muscle
18:05 Experiencing a toxic workplace vs. overidentifying with one’s work, which is leading to a toxic view of that work
18:30 Definition of toxic workplace
19:50 Example of someone who overidentifies with their work vs. someone who is experiencing a toxic workplace
22:30 Should advocates serve fewer survivors as a way to maintain a healthier work environment and avoid burnout? Jeremie and Johanna discuss this question and how overidentification with one’s work might impact this.
26:06 How overidentification with one’s work might influence advocates to see survivors as more fragile than they really are
29:10 How focusing on good actions rather than outcomes helps create a healthy occupational identity
33:07 What happens when one attaches their worth to the outcome of their actions
34:50 How advocates transitioning out of the SV/DV field with a strong occupational identity can successfully adapt to a new role where they do not have such a strong occupational identity
36:59 Preventing overidentification with new job
38:00 Reframing the value that your job provides you
40:05 Johanna shares her experience with disconnecting her sense of self from her work: Leaving an SV/DV role, how she managed burnout and the sense of identity loss.
42:41 Discussion
44:30 Johanna shares tips for advocates transitioning out of the SV/DV field who have burnt out and are coping with the loss or grief of no longer doing work that they strongly identify with
50:30 Outro

Jeremie and Johnanna continue their discussion on occupational identity, a state of identifying closely with one’s job. Join RAFT as we learn about how to manage this identity in mission-driven fields, such as SV/DV advocacy.

00:00 Intro
01:20 Johnanna introduces herself, experience, and research
02:20 Recognizing our Comfort, Learning, and Panic Zones
07:00 Review of Occupational Identity: Strong vs. Over-identified
12:05 Four Skill Development Areas
12:20 Self-Awareness
14:00 Emotional Literacy
17:50 Accountability
21:45 Adaptability
24:40 Q&A on Skill Development for Advocates
25:40 How can someone who is over-identified, but not quite burnt-out, start building healthier occupational identity?
30:10 How to expand social relationships as an introvert
32:25 What about over-identification with personal values?
40:40 Are there any unique challenges/benefits of Occupational Identity for Advocates who are also survivors?
45:35 How does occupational identity lead to an us vs. them dynamic in many organizations between the front line advocates and the leadership?
55:15 Outro

Today we discuss occupational identity, a state of identifying closely with one’s job. Join RAFT as we learn about how to manage this identity in mission-driven fields, such as SV/DV advocacy.

00:00 Intro
01:00 Johnanna shares her background and work.
04:30 Definition of occupational identity
06:30 Definition of strong occupational identity
07:10 Discussion
08:20 Healthy occupational identity
11:00 Unhealthy occupational Identity
12:20 Discussion about struggling to turn off the identity
15:10 When occupational identity rubs off on colleagues who don’t have the same identity or don’t want to.
20:50 Discussion on how organizational structure and culture can set people up to have a strong, sometimes unhealthy, occupational identity
22:30 Things people can do to avoid a strong occupational identity
25:45 Risk 1: Overidentification–seeing yourself as one with your job, colleagues, and mission
30:20 Risk 2: Exploitation of self and others
32:00 Risk 3: Toxic work culture
32:50 Risk 4: Burnout
34:50 Setting healthy boundaries: Self-awareness, knowing your values, asking “who are you outside of work?”, emotional literacy, and skills of accountability
48:00 Outro

In honor of Women’s History Month, the women of RAFT share their career and life experiences–advice, strengths, and lessons learned.

00:00 Intro
00:40 Anneka introduces the topic in celebration of Women’s History Month
01:00 Q1: One lesson or piece of advice we’ve learned from another woman?
01:10 Nicole: Take care of the people you work with
02:45 Discussion
04:25 Anneka: There is no need to feel self-conscious about emotive communication
06:09 Discussion
09:55 Q2: One thing you wish you could tell your younger self as a woman navigating her career?
10:14 Esteniolla: You are under no obligation to stay at a job.
14:04 Discussion
15:20 Mariam: It’s okay if you can’t always separate your personal and work-life
16:25 Discussion
18:45 Nicole: Find other women that you enjoy working with and who can help you get your foot in the door
20:25 Nicole: Not all women will connect with you, but you can still learn from them
22:40 Nicole: A job is a job.
23:16 Discussion
25:40 Q3: One strength you bring to the workforce as a woman? How did you develop it?
26:00 Esteniolla: I’m not apologetic about who I am (beliefs, work style, communication, etc) and I am always in a state of growth.
29:22 Discussion
33:25 Mariam: I am okay with letting go of expectations of myself
35:25 Discussion
39:45 Anneka: I am a really mindful listener
40:50 Discussion
42:35 Closing
43:20 Outro

Do you struggle with procrastination? Join the RAFT team as we dive deeper into S.M.A.C.K., a procrastination prevention tool designed by clinical psychologist and Procrastination Coach, Dr. Christine Li.

00:00 Intro
00:27 Esteniolla introduces the topic and the guest, Dr. Christine Li.
01:19 Dr.Christine Li reintroduces herself to listeners and shares her journey to becoming a Procrastination Coach.
03:30 Dr. Christine Li shares how she relates to her work personally.
05:45 Q&A: What is a working definition of procrastination for us to discuss? Are there atypical procrastination patterns?
09:55 Q&A: What are the top characteristics of procrastination?
11:12 Key Lesson: Procrastination is any thought/feeling/belief system that complicates getting to the finished line.
12:30 Q&A: Can you walk us through S.M.A.C.K.? Simplicity. Mindfulness. Anxiety-Reduction. Communication. Kindness to self.
14:20 Explantation of Simplicity.
15:20 Explantation of Mindfulness.
16:40 Explantation of Anxiety-Reduction.
19:00 Explantation of Communication.
20:22 Explantation of Kindness to self.
22:15 Esteniolla shares an example of how she used S.M.A.C.K. to stop procrastinating in her preparation for this RAFT podcast episode.
24:55 Debrief and discussion of the shared example.
25:55 Discussion on whether one should start with a lighter task or the heaviest task when trying to prevent procrastination.
28:10 Key Lesson: We can learn to make heavy tasks light or, at least, feel light.
30:45 Q&A: What about the advocate who is overwhelmed and is facing a tight deadline at work so they procrastinate? How does should this advocate use S.M.A.C.K.?
34:24 Q&A: When is S.M.A.C.K. not enough? When does one realize that struggles with procrastination are a symptom of a much bigger issue (ex. dysfunction in the workplace)?
37:30 Q&A: At the time of this recording, Valentine’s Day is a week away and many people, like myself, have procrastinated preparations for the holiday. What do you have to say to them?
38:57 Key Lesson: Keep it SIMPLE.
40:45 Dr. Christine Li shares how listeners can be in touch and stay connected to her work.
42:23 Outro