My second week passed with alarming speed, partly because onboarding had set an overly ambitious pace in my mind. Much of this week was spent learning about rudimentary German and European legal concepts, understanding the institutional milieu before the transnational referral mechanism itself. What stood out the most was the geographical and governance complexities of human trafficking; I explored these through assigned and self-directed materials. While one initial research rabbit hole ultimately proved redundant, following through nonetheless conveyed the lesson of clarifying expectations before moving towards output.
With collegial conversations and visits from both a state representative and a Bundestag member, I began to grasp the political environment in which IJM itself operates. One lunchtime discussion stayed with me: I heard from colleagues about fundamental disagreements unfolding within the center-left over prostitution policy. Namely, the split between proponents of the Nordic Model and Germany’s current system of legalisation essentially shows how anti-trafficking work unfolds within a fragmented political landscape. Competing conceptions of freedom and protection complicate the consensus that is required to advance IJM’s advocacy. Parallel discussions about IJM’s approach, blending law enforcement with psychosocial support—with the role of law enforcement being contested in the circle of anti-trafficking organisations—reinforced the notion that advocacy moves through coalitions. Members often share an objective without sharing the same assumptions or methods.
I found it easier to integrate into the office schedule this week, helped by generous conversations with coworkers that continued to dispel initial anxieties about the workplace. Remote work, however, remained an uphill battle and exposed my need for greater structure. As the organisation prepared for its objectives and key results week (“OKR Week”), I began to look to the German workplace as a site of inspiration: at IJM, teams use various online interfaces to keep priorities clear, negotiate goals, and plan progress. As I later came to understand, OKR Week exemplifies how leadership links to patience and intention.
For me, after practising patience all week, I rewarded myself with a rather less patient weekend trip to Prague.