In recent weeks I have had a lot of interesting, thought-provoking discussions about wellbeing in the humanitarian and human rights sphere. This has included the event I organised with fellow author Dimple Dhabalia at a pub in London, Beyond Burnout: A Conversation about Wellbeing and Culture Change in the Humanitarian Sector. My online Circle of Practice has started too, and the first topic on our agenda was Collective Resilience.
And last week I was in a ‘fishbowl’ panel setup with two practitioners who are doing amazing work on delivering rapid psycho-social support and legal aid to national staff (as well as some international staff) in crisis settings (more here), and on ensuring organisations follow the correct standards of duty of care in their staff support systems (more here). There has been a lot going on in the last month – with a Duty of Care pavilion running at AidEx in Geneva as well.
Change is Happening
I’m feeling encouraged and inspired by this. It wasn’t that long ago that discussions about burnout, trauma and organisational support weren’t even happening; indeed, it was this lack of conversation that prompted me in 2014 to start my PhD on burnout in the aid sector.
Since then, more initiatives have been established to address the many different aspects of mental health, protection and wellbeing that for years had been overlooked. And this is not only at the organisational or institutional level. I have been really moved by stories from people attending the Beyond Burnout event in London, and my online Circle of Practice, of simple day-to-day behaviour change among managers and staff that have enabled greater psychological safety; the ability to speak up honestly about one’s emotional struggles or worries or sense of failure, without fear of judgement or punishment.
This includes teams who are having regular check-ins, who get together in creative ways that enable more humanness with each other, such as taking art classes together. Teams whose members are able to take a break when they are exhausted knowing that their colleagues have got their back 100%, and the work will get covered because there are clear lines of delegation. Leaders who are being vulnerable and sharing their own personal challenges or admitting to mistakes, signing off work on time (rather than late at night) and encouraging their staff to do the same.
Why Remembering Matters
We have to remember these victories and transformations in creating healthier working cultures, even if they seem modest or unimportant. Because it is really easy to get lost in all that still needs to be done, and all that we are missing, or all that is getting worse.
Believe me, I see that too. I see how hopeless the world can feel right now. I see the diminishing resources and funding avenues in the sector. And I see the growing overwhelm from just how much suffering there exists that needs support and solidarity.
Photo by David Walker | Walker Design Co. on Unsplash
Change takes time
But I am also reminded that it can take many years – decades even – for change to be apparent. This is as much with our efforts to cultivate healthier and more inclusive work environments as it is with our efforts to support communities suffering from violence, poverty or climate change.
I was reflecting the other day about my humanitarian and human rights career, that has spanned over 20 years now. And how easy it has been for me, on multiple occasions, to feel guilt or shame for not doing enough; for seemingly failing in my efforts; for being part of the development/humanitarian machine that sometimes creates more power imbalances and inequalities when our hope had been to do the opposite.
And yet, in spite of all that, if I allow myself I can think back to times when I genuinely made a difference. When an abuse survivor was able to get the medical help they needed as a result of my intervention. Or when a community did eventually receive compensation for violations committed against them by the government after months of advocacy. Even if some things happened long after I had left that particular job – we can sometimes look back and see the trajectory of change, and how life may have improved for some of the individuals that we have worked with.
Culture Change is a Practice
The same may be said for our own mental and emotional health – or perhaps the health of our organisations. I have come a long way since my twenties and thirties, most of which I spent barely in touch with my emotional landscape or unable to admit to some of the pain or trauma I was feeling. The power of healing and recovery is that we can start to make different, healthier choices. And be bolder in asking for what we need from others, including our colleagues and employers.
That is what we are seeing now, with the rise in advocacy and interventions to address trauma and burnout in the humanitarian and humanrights sphere. Yes, there are still many gaps. Yes, there is more awareness raising we need to do. And yes, in many respects we need more resources andmore investment in order to do it. But take a moment, if you can, to take pride in your own journey of understanding the importance of mental health. And in the small (or big) changes that may be happening around you, which you too maybe contributing to just by showing up with greater vulnerability.
In this way, culture change doesn’t need to cost a lot. It is a practice: of understanding yourself better, of being more honest with who you are, and of keeping theintention to stay whole and connected alongside the humans you are with.
Let’s practice this together! You can join the next online Circle of Practice on either the 3rd or 4th December.
The topic is Reclaiming our Stories of Resilience: In humanitarian and human rights work, it is easy to forget ourselves – or to focus on our faults and limitations. This session will help you to tap back into your own story, and why this matters for the work you do. With kindness and gentleness, we will reflect on the challenges you have overcome and how this can help you restore hope and purpose in your work. Do join us! And find out about this and other services I offer here.