The Freedom From Empty Podcast

In Episode 43 of the podcast, I began to make the case for why workplaces should be thinking about the impact of trauma on their workforce--which  ultimately translates to their organization’s profits and well-being--and why I think trauma informed workplaces are (should be) the future of work.  In this episode I explore the elements of a trauma informed workplace as established by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration). 

The product of transformation is beautiful. The journey is messy and hard. In this episode I share observations about the process of transformation and tips for supporting yourself through the journey.

I recorded this episode when we were already living with the impact of a global pandemic, but before the death of George Floyd. Before the effects of trauma--the impact of centuries of both overt and covert violence against people of color in this country--rose to a boiling point. More than ever before perhaps, employers and leaders are challenged to know what to do, how to respond, and how to care for their employees--the people who bring their very human lives and human scars to the workplace with them every day. Are you ready? 

We have not been taught to recognize the impact of trauma on our individual and collective well-being. This episode explores how trauma can translate into individual behaviors. You might be surprised what you learn. 

What your people need right now, and by “people” I mean your teams, organizations, families and friends, is for you to show up as the highest and best version of yourself; someone who is grounded, non-reactive, transparent, consistent, and kind. In this episode I share tips for leading through crisis--through the lens of a few things to watch out for--so that can show up well for your people in the face of uncertainty and extraordinary stress. 

Some of us are not on the front lines of the COVID19 battle right now, but as therapist Aundi Kolber writes in her book Try Softer “many of us, at some point or another, have had experiences that felt so overwhelming or threatening to our nervous systems that our brains encoded that information on a spectrum from disturbing to outright traumatic.” Trauma is recoverable with intention, resources and support. In this episode I share some of my experience living with and learning to thrive with PTSD.

You can't sleep. Maybe your chest is pounding. Or you were on the phone with your boss or client and couldn't find the right words. In the midst of a global pandemic, our fight or flight response is on overdrive, and that response, intended to help us escape a sabre toothed tiger, shunts our performance to our breathing function and our critical organs. This same fight or flight response means our executive functions (context, decision-making, perspective, impulse control) are short-circuited. Living in fight or flight compromises our immun response. And living in fight or flight for extended periods of time can leave us with chronic or terminal illness. The 7 tips I cover in this episode will help you calm your fight or flight response so that your body and brain can have a much-needed break. These tips don't cost any money. And the majority of them only take a few moments at any given time. 

Setting and holding clear boundaries allows us to support our well-being and the well-being of those around us. When I reflect on my own crash and burn, I can see clearly that my lack of boundaries led me to push myself to my ultimate limits, until my only option, as I understood it, was to throw grenades into certain areas of my life and relationships. I couldn’t survive that way anymore. And I was not the only casualty. This episode explores lessons I have learned (and continue to learn) about how to set boundaries in support of healthier personal relationships.

The world has changed dramatically. Everything is uncertain. We have choices. Our choices will influence the outcome, not only of this global pandemic but of the world we will live in in the future. 

Individuals, teams and organizations who operate within clear boundaries are more likely to thrive. Maybe you know how to use boundaries at work, but need a refresher. Maybe you never considered boundaries at work as an option for you or your team. In any case, this podcast explores 5 tips for implementing boundaries at work. Give one of these tips a try and let me know how it goes!