Collective Trauma Part 2 - The Role of Leaders

Transgenerational Transmission

In the aftermath of trauma, whether it stems from natural disasters, acts of violence, pandemics, or systemic injustices, the role of leaders and their values becomes crucial in guiding communities through recovery and rebuilding.?

Leaders, by virtue of their position and influence, have the unique ability to shape the narrative, mobilise resources, and foster resilience across communities.

Effective leadership in the workplace and leaders values will make a significant difference in how individuals and groups process their experiences, address their needs, and move forward.?

Most leaders, will not tolerate far-right ideology or find this kind of overt racism acceptable.

The problem is not this kind of racism, but the covert and more subtle racism which regularly goes unchecked day to day and also results in trauma, for example;

“Your English is actually really good”

“That food smells weird can you not bring that to work, it’s making the office smell funny”

“You’re not like the others”

“I love exotic-looking women"

“Your name is so hard to pronounce, can I call you ………for short”

“You’re too sensitive, it’s just a joke”

“All lives matter”

“I just don’t see colour”

“I am not racist. I have loads of Black friends, My wife is also Indian”

“Where are you really from?”

The transgenerational transmission of both individual and collective trauma from experiencing the racism which is described above, which often goes unprocessed.

And, impacts an individual’s tolerance to resilience, empathy and perseverance.

This is also reflected collectively across communities or customers who buy products or services from your organisation, and who experience these values or biases.

For example, it is not unusual in healthcare to have huge disparities in health outcomes, particularly for racialised communities like maternal health for Black women ,

Amazon scrapped a recruitment algorithm because it had effectively taught itself that male candidates were superior.

US regulators investigated Apple because of claims that its credit card offered different credit limits for men and women.

And, women with darker skin were twice as likely to be told that their photos failed UK passport rules compared to lighter-skinned men.

However, leaders can develop the tools, strategies, and skills to disrupt continuums of harm in their organisations and implement policies that mitigate harmful effects or foster an environment of psychological safety providing stability, promoting open communication and fostering unity.

5 Ways Leaders Play A Pivotal Role in Building Resilience in the Aftermath of Trauma

Resilience is the ability to recover and adapt in the face of adversity, trauma, or significant stress.?

I am not expecting that leaders of organisations should treat or diagnose trauma, but effective leaders who take a collective approach to recovery, helping communities navigate the challenges of trauma, rebuilding in ways that are inclusive, compassionate, and sustainable.?

For communities experiencing collective trauma, developing resilience is crucial to healing and moving forward.?Building resilience involves several key components including;

• Acknowledgment and Validation: The first step in building resilience is acknowledging the trauma and validating the experiences of those affected. This involves creating safe spaces where individuals and communities can express their pain, grief, and anger without fear of judgment or retribution. Acknowledgement helps break the silence around trauma, allowing for a collective process of healing to begin.
• Strengthening Social Bonds: Resilience is often rooted in strong social connections. In the aftermath of trauma, it is essential to rebuild and strengthen social bonds within communities. This can be achieved through community activities, support groups, and initiatives that foster solidarity and mutual support. When people feel connected and supported, they are more likely to find the strength to heal and rebuild.
• Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being: Addressing the mental health needs of individuals affected by collective trauma is critical. Access to mental health services, including counselling, therapy, and support groups, can help individuals process their trauma and develop coping mechanisms. Trauma-informed care, which takes into account the impact of trauma on individuals' mental and emotional well-being, is essential in providing effective support.
• Encouraging Community Empowerment: Empowering communities to take an active role in their recovery process is vital for building resilience. This can involve community-driven initiatives, such as rebuilding efforts, advocacy for social justice, or local economic development projects. When communities are given the tools and resources to rebuild, they can regain a sense of control and agency, which is crucial for recovery.
• Fostering Hope and Optimism: In the face of trauma, fostering a sense of hope and optimism is vital for resilience. This can involve promoting narratives of survival and recovery, celebrating small victories, and highlighting stories of strength and perseverance. Encouraging a forward-looking mindset helps individuals and communities focus on the future, rather than being trapped in the past.

What can I do, personally?

Remember, this is not a one-off event or disturbance. Last week, also marked 40,000 deaths in Gaza since the Hamas attack on Israel ten months ago.?

Women, children, men, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, friends, school mates, work colleagues - just wiped out.?

Hospitals, schools, power stations, water works - wiped out.?

No food. No clean water. No toilets. No money. No change of clothes. No bandages. Nothing!?

The Bible has songs of lament the worship leaders could use to help express the people’s grief for times like this, when they were traumatised by so much grief, death and destruction.?

I'm writing here as a lament, but also as a petition to leaders - Your actions in these critical moments shape the trajectory of recovery and have a lasting impact on the well-being and cohesion of generations to come.?

The truth is if we say or do nothing, then what we are really saying is it is ok - No more DEI, no more social justice, no more equity, no more fairness, no more empathy, no more understanding — the human and financial costs are astronomical, the riots and even Gaza are just recent examples of this.

? If your team or the organisation lacks diversity, particularly in senior leadership or decision-making roles, consider the barriers to applying for these roles and how the organisation is creating opportunities for racialised staff to apply or get promoted?

? If you walk into a board meeting and happen to overhear your really nice, well-respected colleagues talking, but the conversation is full of bias or microaggressive statements. Be brave and interrupt the conversation, don’t let it go unchecked.

? And, finally whatever happens next, please keep checking in on your Black, Brown and Global Majority friends, neighbours and colleagues……even though most are probably likely to be British and may even say they are OK!

If you are becoming desensitised to these stories or feel helpless against the onslaught.

This is a normal response to trauma. The opportunity is to recover and build resilience in the face of this most recent adversity.?

This is the time to dig in our heels, roll up our sleeves, and recommit to doing this work.

Racial Trauma Mini-Course

During Covid, Benevolent Health and partners developed a Racial Trauma Mini-Course from a summit we held for Black, Brown and Global Majority colleagues impacted by race-based traumatic stress. Allies are also welcome to the FREE DOWNLOAD.

If you are interested in this course for yourself or a colleague and have been impacted by racial trauma. I would love to send you a copy. Please Register HERE

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PS If you want to hang out.?Kinship is a Safe Space for Diverse Women. Looking for some Cheerleaders. We meet on the First Friday of every month. Allies are welcome! Learn more here