Practicing self-development while working in complex & challenging environments

I took this photograph in New Jersey in 2019. I’d just completed up a 4 year photography project connecting with people in some of the most marginalised yet strongest communities in the United States.

I saw first hand what it looked like to stand toe to toe with resistance. It thought me to give generously, receive humbly, ignite self-development in the face of adversity and how to think on my feet.

These are the gifts that I share whenever I connect with a social work, youth work or community service leaders, practitioners and people connected to services.

To say the past two years have been hard…?is an understatement. It’s always been challenging… but the pandemic has highlighted the tough parts.

Our workforce is resilient, yet we are struggling. For many, traditional self-care has become a practice of throwing a glass of water on a raging fire – our workforce is burnt.

When we hear the words?‘stay strong’?many of us?picture ‘our version’ of a person struggling to hold a weight above their head… knowing that it will inevitably come crashing down.?

Why am I writing?this??Because I was a burnt-out practitioner. Like you, I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders.?These uncontrollable pressures make?it?difficult for us to be the best version of ourselves -?at work and in our private lives.

Our systems are struggling to support us and?we need a workforce invested in strength and development even while under significant pressure.

Self-care is great and should be practiced, but sometimes a bubble bath or a therapeutic walk around the neighbourhood just won’t cut it.?

We need?‘real’ personal development and transferrable skills?that are available to us in both our professional and personal lives.

I’ve identified 6 areas that we could?all explore, learn about and?practice when working in complex and challenging environments.

1. Unpack the hard stuff.

Unpack the biggest professional and personal challenges in a?supportive strengths-based environment of peers?who understand your experience (first hand).

2. Accept and commit

Be more consistent with your own values and apply versatile mindfulness & acceptance skills?in your responses to uncontrollable experiences.

3. Actively listen, co-regulate and self manage

Active listening, co-regulation and self-management?are?the most powerful tools to help us build a connection with others whilst limiting the effects of vicarious trauma. They help us set aside personal opinions, preferences, pride, ego and even fear... it’s the ability to?be less ‘over here’ and more ‘over there’.?

4. Manage expectation & prioritise fulfilment

Managing our expectations and the expectations of others,?whilst prioritising?fulfilment is essential. Instead of seeing fulfilment as something to ‘be achieved’, it’s should be seen as?accessible to us at all times (especially in tough times).

5. Invest in collective care

Seeing others well-being – particularly their emotional health –?as a shared responsibility of our teams and leaders?rather than the lone task of an individual. But?personal development should always be the individual’s responsibility.

6. Prioritise self-development

Self-development looks different for everyone. It’s important to carry out?flexible self-development strategies and implement tools that?are both effective and time efficient. This?could come as physical and mental exercise, reading books, listening to podcasts, reflective journalling, watching TED Talks... or anything to widen your range of perspective.

If you are interested to learn more about igniting?strength & resilience in?your team, visit: www.woundsandwisdom.life/humans-of-the-sector