What if I told you 80% of your team is carrying workplace trauma, but only 56% even recognize it as trauma?
This massive gap between experience and awareness represents one of the biggest blind spots in leadership today.
We're operating with traumatized workforces while completely missing the signs. That employee who flinches during feedback sessions. The colleague who can't seem to trust the team. The high performer who's brilliant but feels disconnected from everyone around them.
Here's what most leadership books won't tell you: trauma-informed leadership isn't just compassionate - it's strategic.
When we start conversations with curiosity instead of assumptions, we create psychological safety. When we recognize that "we need to talk" can trigger panic responses, we make tiny pivots that change everything. When we understand the difference between cultural differences and trauma responses, we build teams where people actually want to show up.
The research is clear. Organizations that prioritize psychological safety see better retention, higher performance, and stronger bottom lines. Yet we're still operating like trauma doesn't exist in our workplaces.
Your team members aren't broken. They're carrying experiences that shape how they show up. As leaders, we can either ignore this reality or leverage it to build stronger, more resilient cultures.
The choice is yours. But the opportunity to attract top talent, increase innovation, and open up human potential in your workplace starts with awareness.
Listen to this episode with researcher, COO of TCK Training and trauma-informed leadership coach Elizabeth Vahey Smith.
Link in bio.
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