S10-Ep20: Break the Cycle - The Role of Trauma-Informed Leaders

Guest: Stephanie Lemek, Founder: The Wounded Workforce Your staff are probably dealing with trauma: in the U.S. alone, 70% of adults faced at least one traumatic experience. Those experiences manifest in different ways in the workplace, from perfectionism to absenteeism. Our trauma reactions are as unique as our fingerprints.   Being a trauma-informed leader can help your team – and, ultimately, your organization. Guest Stephanie Lemek draws on her deep experience in HR to share how to shape a trauma-informed workplace. Here's what Stephanie and host Maureen Metcalf cover: The ways leaders can help team members deal with trauma… …and the ways they shouldn’t – such as playing the role of therapist. The seven principles of trauma-informed workplaces. Other episodes you'll enjoy: Remote Work & Mental Well-Being with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky Informed Leadership: The Power of Trauma with Rachael Kelly Nurturing Peace from the Ashes of Violence with Hyppolite Ntigurirwa & Mike Hardy   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on TikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!   RESOURCES:   To learn more about Stephanie’s work for trauma-informed workplaces, check her website at https://www.thewoundedworkforce.com.   More about CliftonStrengths, the assessment resource she mentioned, is available at https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx .   Her YouTube channel is The Wounded Workforce; you’ll find it at https://www.youtube.com/@TheWoundedWorkforce .   And the book Stephanie recommended is The Deepest Well by Nadine Burke Harris. It’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/3w5TS2t, and as an audiobook at https://amzn.to/3WoQWIO.   Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.    Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here.      Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include: Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, the African Way by Mungi Ngomane. Hardback (https://amzn.to/48Doh6j) and audiobook (https://amzn.to/48YCRF4) Nerve: Lessons on Leadership from Two Women Who Went First by Martha Piper & Indira Samarasekera. Paperback (https://amzn.to/3tOtzg4) and audiobook (https://amzn.to/41OYdT5) Jilly Truit murder mysteries by Beverley McLachlin: Full Disclosure – https://amzn.to/46TxW6Q (paperback) https://amzn.to/46VDL3Q (audiobook) Denial – https://amzn.to/46YCbhs (paperback) https://amzn.to/3GJc0AA (audiobook) Women and Leadership: Journey Toward Equity by Sherylle J. Tan & Lisa DeFrank-Cole   NOTE: As an Amazon partner, we may make a small commission from books you buy through these links.   -----------------------   OUR PODCAST TEAM:   Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli Booking Producer: Jenna Reik CONNECT WITH US:  YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership  Threads: @innovativeleaders X/Twitter/Whatever New Name It Has This Week: @IL_Institute  LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2  TikTok: @innovativeleadership Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   Stephanie Lemek, with 16+ years of HR experience across diverse industries, founded The Wounded Workforce in 2023. Her mission is to cultivate trauma-informed workplace cultures. Observing a gap in support despite HR efforts, she embarked on creating solutions. Recognizing that over 70% of adults carry traumatic experiences into the workplace, she aims to equip leaders and HR professionals with tools to address these challenges. Stephanie's initiative stems from a passion for inclusivity and research, driven by a desire to ensure everyone has the necessary support to thrive in