In search of…

Wisdom at Work

Alisa Clark, UN

What did the UN mean to you before you came to work here ?

Service to humanity; protectors of peace; promoters of development; important conferences; hope for the poor, hungry, victims of war and natural disasters; bureaucracy; defenders of justice; prestige; high calibre professionalism and delivery.

What does it mean now ?

Important conferences; networking and exchange of information; some follow-up; competition for scarce resources and contracts; seemingly never-ending bureaucracy; politics; some hunger averted; some peace kept; office politics; prestige; a salary; mortgage payments; security.

So what changed ?

With experience, some adjustment of perspective, greater understanding of what it means in logistical, political, practical terms to get things done…but does this mean that the UN means something less than it did before? Is peace less relevant? Do equality, justice and human dignity mean less in global human experience? Do they mean less to you?

The association Wisdom at Work challenges you to live up to the positive ideals that the organization aspires to. It seeks to support you as you explore what it means to transform your long-held or long- forgotten values into a daily sense of fulfillment of personal purpose and higher goals in the workplace. It’s about bringing to life the texts – the UN Charter, the International Declaration on Human Rights and others -which gave birth to our organization, its mandates and its vision. More than structure and processes, the international community surely can and must be about methodologies and policies and work- place practices which are imbued with the very values on which its existence is founded.

We ask ourselves questions like what do the UN core values — integrity, professionalism, respect for diversity — mean in practical terms? Where does accountability lie for upholding these values? Do secretariat members perpetuate the global political status quo or promote universal principles? What about decision-making procedures – when civil and corporate actors have no say in economic and social policy-making do we have the full picture or support needed to address this world’s most pressing concerns? Yes, Member States decide on what we do – but is it possible that we can proactively shape, within internationalist principles, and as upholders and advocates of universal values, our secretariat roles in what the Member States mandate us to do? With all of this, do we preach more than we practise? – in the workplace, do you feel heard, respected, acknowledged, encouraged? Should our staff representatives take forward our substantive ideas as well as practical concerns?

We don’t necessarily have the answers but we think it’s worth asking the questions if we are to be true to the values-based authority with which the UN is charged. And above all, if we are to deliver on our role as servants to this planet and its inhabitants, to peace and justice and progress for all.

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Wisdom at Work is an autonomous association of UN staff and other members of the international community, participating in their personal capacities. This initiative is notfor-profit and non-denominational.

We hope to reclaim the relevance, values and passion that gave birth to the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and that live on in us, its servants, today. We seek the wisdom that genuine knowledge, respect and inclusiveness would impart in the performance of our mandates.

Wisdom at Work provides forums for the exposure to, and exploration of, universal values, and ways in which we can acknowledge and apply these in our work as members of the international community. Areas of focus are:

Support – informal gettogethers for sharing and mutual learning. A first retreat is planned for July 2004..

Inspiration – exchanges with selected individuals on their experiences and insights with a view to re-affirming practical application of universal human values. The next of our bimonthly brunches will be held in June..

Sensitization – targeting a broad audience to raise awareness on the implications of universal values in the international community setting. In the pipeline are plans for values-based professional development activities and “Open Mike” nights..

Wisdom at Work welcomes your comments on some of the challenges and good practices in your workplace which could help us to develop together our capacity to better implement universal values in our work.

For more information check out our website at www.wisdomatwork.net or contact us at: info@wisdomatwork.net