54. “Moral injury” with Dimple Dhabalia

Embodying change: Transforming power, culture and well-being in aid organisations

In this heartfelt conversation, Dimple Dhabalia shares her journey from working in the government and humanitarian sectors to advocating for trauma-informed leadership and workforce well-being. Through the lens of her personal experiences and her book Tell Me My Story, Dimple explores the vital shift from “service before self” to a more sustainable, human-centered approach. This episode dives into the complexity of moral injury, the ripple effect of self-care in leadership, and how we can reframe our approach to service to prioritize both humanity and well-being.

Guest Background:
Dimple Dhabalia is a seasoned humanitarian professional and author of Tell Me My Story: Challenging the Narrative of Service Before Self. With nearly two decades of experience in asylum and refugee policy and operations for the U.S. government, Dimple transitioned to focus on workforce mental health and well-being, organizational trauma, and moral injury. Her work and insights are dedicated to reshaping the way we approach service, leadership, and self-care in high-stress, misson-driven environments.

Top Learning Points:

1. Moral Injury in Humanitarian Work: Dimple explains how moral injury—feeling a deep conflict between personal beliefs and professional duties—affects humanitarian workers and government employees, especially when policies conflict with their values.
2. The Power of Self-Care and Boundaries: From the trauma of burnout to the importance of disconnecting, Dimple highlights how taking time for self-care is vital for both personal well-being and professional effectiveness.
3. Human-Centered Leadership: Shifting from metrics-focused to human-centered leadership can create environments of trust, creativity, and collaboration that improve team dynamics and reduce burnout.
4. Creating Space for Healing: Dimple emphasizes the importance of modeling empathy and compassion, and how small shifts in leadership style—such as fostering psychological safety and encouraging boundaries—can have a profound impact on team health.

Resources mentioned:

• Tell Me My Story: Challenging the Narrative of Service Before Self by Dimple Dhabalia
• Podcast: Service Without Sacrifice–conversations on hope + healing
• Podcast: What Would Ted Lasso Do
• Project: /rōot/ by dimple dhabalia on Substack
• Book Mention: Pause–Harnessing the Life-Changing Power of Giving Yourself a Break by Rachael O’Meara

Quotes:

1. "Service doesn’t require sacrifice—well-being should be a normal part of our everyday work and life." – Dimple Dhabalia

2. "Moral injury is a natural response when your professional role and personal beliefs don’t align." – Dimple Dhabalia

3. "True leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about how we show up in the world." – Dimple Dhabalia

4. "Creating space for healing starts with being authentic and modeling the change we want to see." – Dimple Dhabalia

5. "Even in systems that feel out of alignment, small acts of compassion can create ripple effects that lead to change." – Dimple Dhabalia