METTA FRAMEWORK IN HUMANITARIAN LEADERSHIP

METTA FRAMEWORK IN HUMANITARIAN LEADERSHIP

The contemporary world we are living in is of volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) nature.

This context requires a high degree of flexibility, resilience, and adaptation to navigate the rough seas in managing projects in crisis contexts such as pandemic, flood response and conflict.

With rapid, sudden, continuous changes and setbacks, the resilience of leaders and managers in the humanitarian sector is continuously challenged and assessed.

By integrating the METTA framework in humanitarian leadership, it contributes to fostering resilience for leading the team in VUCA contexts.

• Mindfulness encourages awareness of the present moment.

• Empathy fosters understanding and connection with others in particular the team members and communities.

• Trust builds confidence in oneself and in relationships – cultivating trust and safety that will facilitate discussion and sharing imperative for collective decision making in a team.

• Transformation focuses on personal and team growth and change.

• Action emphasizes taking steps toward project goals with calm and confidence.

As a humanitarian leader managing programs and projects in Myanmar from 2016 until 2024 for international organizations from the Rohingya refugee crisis in North Rakhine in 2016/2017 followed by the COVID pandemic and military coup in 2020/2021, the METTA framework I applied in the following way.

Mindfulness by staying in the present moment, being at peace with oneself and maintaining calmness facilitates internal awareness and decision making. By setting aside daily mindfulness breaks in the morning after waking up, afternoon after lunch and evening, clarity of thought appears that will lead to conscious decisions instead of decisions made in a rush that could have serious consequences in a volatile humanitarian context. This is what I practice before management or project staff meetings. From a leader perspective it requires a calm state of mind for bringing internal awareness that will result in a conscious outcome by following the METTA framework in humanitarian leadership

Empathy by being fully present through active listening, observe the emotions and body language of those who speak and using mindful pauses, responding thoughtfully. It helps to better understand what is going on in their mind and emotions in what is said and not said and hence uncover the real story related to a humanitarian situation and respond as a leader meeting the humanitarian or personal needs of a staff or community member. Or in other words putting yourself in their shoes. Sharing your own personal struggles helps to make them feel not alone. It also helps to better understand the other person’s view of the world and emotions and hence improve communication, reduces conflict and increases emotional intelligence.

Trust - cultivating trust and safety is key for building psychosocial safety in a team or organization but even more vital in a volatile humanitarian context where lives and livelihoods are continuously at risk.

In my leadership journey through team and individual meetings based on the METTA coaching approach trust is based on empathy where staff freely share their observations, challenges, and ideas in a safe space. It enables to be honest also with one’s feelings and needs. Open communication builds trust and strengthens relationships with your team members and other colleagues. Follow through your commitments because it builds trust with others and strengthens team cohesion.

Transformation

Transformation is personal, professional, or organizational growth. It involves embracing change and learning from experiences. For me managing an agricultural rice value chain project in Myanmar with the purpose of promoting locally improved rice seeds and its uptake by farmers collaborating with government and private sector stakeholders with the advent of COVID 19 in April 2020 and military coup in 2021 amended and adapted its approach by disengaging from the government and focusing solely on private sector through a cash-for-work scheme for constructing infrastructure such as irrigation channels, warehouses and industrial roads, employing vulnerable labor affected by the dual crisis.

Shifting the focus of a project from a development to a humanitarian/development approach was a big transformation that offered opportunities for growth and resilience – how a project can move forward in times of crisis and delivering even more results through benefiting more project participants.

It reflected on experiences related to past experiences with projects transforming because of a crisis. The prime driver was the willingness of trying out new things and innovate. For this a market assessment study was conducted by the project team and an external consultant followed by a cash-for-work pilot project proposal that subsequently received funding from the donor. In the development process continuous consultations through inputs and suggestions collected from stakeholders by the project team to enhance the quality of the initiative. It is a prime example of when faced with challenges sees them as opportunities for growth. This shift in mindset can lead to exciting new opportunities.

Action

Action is the final component of the METTA Framework. It emphasizes the importance of taking steps toward the goal of building resilience, whether it is at organizational, project or individual level, it requires not just reflection but also initiative-taking behavior and stay closely connected with each other.

Create an Action Plan: Outline specific steps you can take to address challenges whether it in a project plan for managing a humanitarian response to respond to a natural disaster, such as a flood response, conflict, pandemic or as an individual in your personal or professional development plan. Break them down into manageable responsibilities and tasks with options for delegation and accountability.to the appropriate level. Continuously stay and follow up with your team members and use the trust and empathy created to collectively monitor progress and draw lessons learned.

Stay Committed: Be committed to completion of your action plan. Consistency daily is instrumental to fostering resilience and deliver results.

Acknowledge your progress, no matter how small. Celebrating achievements boosts motivation and confidence. Practice patience and persistence in the process. Consistency brings the result.

Based on my experience as a humanitarian leader the METTA coaching framework is an ideal approach for building resilience needed in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. It helps you to navigate the get around the different roadblocks and overcoming challenges with flexibility while maintaining calm, presence, being at peace, build trust, show empathy towards reaching your goal.

Resilience is not just about bouncing back; it is also about moving forward.

Resilience needs to be replenished by the person, and based on my experience daily reflections on what worked and what could be done better are key for maintaining balance and keep your energy levels up. All part of self-awareness and practicing self-care. This is essential for avoiding burnout. In todays volatile high paced world, it is assumed that resilience is infinite and of unlimited supply which is a prime misconception causing the high rate of burn outs at professional level.

Contributor

Nils Den Tex

27/11/2025