Author Archives: Alessandra Pigni
Personal and Global Development are Linked
Personal, social and political transformation are interconnected. Yes, ‘the personal is political’. As a psychologist with a passion for the state of the world I’m glad to see that more and more research shows that personal wellbeing, awareness and development are intimately connected … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged activism and aid work, reflection and action
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Discussing ‘Organizations on the Edge of Chaos’ at Oxford University
“Organizations on the Edge of Chaos: Exploring Culture, Burnout, and Resilience in the Humanitarian Sector” a talk by Alessandra Pigni delivered on December 17, 2013 at Oxford University at The Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflicts (ELAC) in the course … Continue reading
Posted in Burnout
Tagged aid workers' burnout, organizational culture in aid
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Finding meaning in a crazy world
Jerusalem is under a thick coat of snow, and snowmen pop up at every corner. While I get ready to leave this crazy land, I like to remind myself that as human beings we crave for love and meaning in this … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged reflection and action
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It’s how we work that matters, not how much
The latest research on burnout is very clear: “While most people think job burnout is just a matter of working too hard, that’s not necessarily true. Burnout is not just when you need a vacation to recharge. It’s when you feel … Continue reading
Posted in Burnout
Tagged aid workers' burnout, organizational culture in aid
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Self-criticism will not change the world
This morning I read a post on ‘the trouble with aid’ written by yet another white guy who runs a multi-million NGO. It was the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back. Here’s why. The list of humanitarian workers’ blogs … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged aid workers' burnout, organizational culture in aid
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Love is the most potent source of power
Can we see the connection between healthy relations at work, and our ability to enable change in the world? One cannot be burnt-out and have a positive impact out there. This is common sense. So why is it that many … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged activism and aid work, reflection and action
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Can Humanitarian Organisations be Humane with Aid Workers?
I’m thinking of giving myself a new job title (photographer?) while attending those curious socialising events called ‘expat parties’. When I don’t opt out altogether, I generally find myself hearing yet another story of burnout, unbearable stress, terrible managers, or impossible colleagues. Why … Continue reading
Posted in Burnout
Tagged aid workers' burnout, organizational culture in aid
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Mindfulness and human rights at work
How do you get from mindfulness to human rights? A more appropriate question for me is “how you don’t?”. All the attempts to separate our inner world from the world out there may be soothing, but deny our fundamental interconnectedness … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged activism and aid work, mindfulness for aid workers
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Does your organisation have room for wisdom?
Resilient organisations transform, adapt and grow through mindful conversations and through breaking old automatic-pilot patterns. Sounds nice but what does it actually mean? Mindful conversations A book like to refer to in my work is Difficult Conversations. How to Discuss … Continue reading
Posted in Burnout
Tagged aid workers' wellbeing, organizational culture in aid
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Why Self-Care is not Enough
I’ve been a strong advocate of self-care over the years, and now that the trend is slowly catching up (even) in the nonprofit sector, I’d like to say why self-care is simply not enough. First a disclaimer: self-care matters. Any nurturing activity … Continue reading
Posted in Burnout
Tagged aid workers' burnout, aid workers' mental health, aid workers' wellbeing, organizational culture in aid
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