Trauma & Leadership
Through our ongoing adaptation to living and working in a Covid-19 world, we have seen increased mental health issues and people leaving their jobs. We saw 1 in 6 Americans enter therapy for the first time in 2020. Over half (53%) of Americans reported that their work environment contributed to their mental health symptoms in 2021, up from 37% in 2019. During “The Great Resignation” of 2021, roughly 33 million Americans quit their jobs. Our organizations can continue being part of the problem, or we can choose to be part of the solution.
A “Trauma-Informed Leader” understands the causes and effects of trauma in their workplace. They know how to navigate interpersonal conflict and manage stress.
The “Trauma-Integrated Leader” is a front-line activist that promotes well-being and creates brave spaces for hard topics. They have worked with therapists, coaches, mentors, and other guides to uncover their ineffective behaviors' triggers and to remedy their unconscious reactivity.
When we equip our people with the knowledge and tools to stay calm and navigate interpersonal chaos with skill and grace, we create more compassion and increase productivity and effectiveness at work.
I am working on a new body of work that looks at how an individual’s culture, history, and trauma are the hidden forces secretly running our organizations. In the meantime, my colleague Nora Dietrich and I are creating frameworks and tools to start the conversation. Download the “Leadership Trauma Archetypes” by signing up below.
