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From conflict to compassion: managing team disagreements with a trauma-informed lens
Workplace conflict is inevitable. But how we handle it, especially with trauma-informed awareness, makes all the difference. Conflict doesn’t have to be destructive. In fact, it can deepen trust if handled with care, empathy, and nervous system literacy. 🔥 What conflict can trigger (and why it matters)? For people with trauma histories, conflict can: Unresolved trauma makes conflict feel like danger, not dialogue. đź’ˇ A trauma-informed approach to conflict. 1. Regulate first, talk later If emotions are high, pause. Let everyone self-regulate first. Safety before solutions. 2. Curiosity over judgment Shift from “Who’s right?” to “What happened here?”Understand each person’s story before jumping to conclusions. 3. Use grounding language Instead…
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What HR should know about trauma-informed workplaces?
Trauma is more common than we think. According to the WHO, 1 in 3 people globally will experience trauma in their lifetime. And yet, workplaces often lack the awareness to support employees who are living with the impacts of trauma or being re-triggered by the environment. A trauma-informed workplace is one that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and creates systems of safety, choice, and empowerment. ⚠️ What counts as trauma? Trauma isn’t just about war or abuse. It includes: As Gabor MatĂ© notes, “Trauma is not what happens to you, but what happens inside you as a result of what happens to you.” 🧬 The science: what trauma does…
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How to support employees through collective trauma and crisis?
(e.g., war, global events, humanitarian emergencies) Whether it’s war, natural disaster, or humanitarian crisis, global events don’t stay “outside the office.” For many employees, especially those with personal, cultural, or geographic ties, these events impact their emotional well-being, attention, and sense of safety. And yet, in many workplaces, these crises are met with silence, avoidance, or “business as usual.”That silence can feel like abandonment. 🌍 What is collective trauma? Collective trauma is a psychological reaction that occurs when a group of people experience a shared threat or loss, such as war, terrorism, forced migration, or environmental disaster. According to Judith Herman (1992), trauma is not just about the event —…
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Signs your team is burning out and what you can do about it as a leader
Burnout isn’t just an individual issue; it’s often a systemic problem that reflects how a team or workplace is functioning. And when leaders miss the early warning signs, the cost can be high: disengagement, turnover, and long-term sick leave. Good news? You can take action before it’s too late. 🚨 Early signs of team burnout Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. These early signs are your red flags: These signs are often misread as laziness, lack of commitment, or incompetence, when in reality, they’re signs of nervous system overload. 🤝 What leaders can do to respond supportively You don’t have to be a psychologist to support your team. You just need to…
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Why do mentally healthy teams perform better? The ROI of mental health in the workplace
In today’s fast-paced work environment, it’s easy to view mental health as a “nice to have” rather than a strategic priority. However, the data reveals that teams with mental health are not only happier, but also more productive, loyal, and innovative. In other words, mental health is good for business. đź’Ľ The business case: Mental health impacts the bottom line Let’s look at the numbers: But this isn’t just about avoiding losses; it’s about building thriving teams. 🚀 What mentally healthy teams do differently Healthy teams: When people feel psychologically safe, they take creative risks, ask for help, and solve problems together. That’s not soft; that’s strategy. 🛠️ How HR…
