Identifying Trauma Responses at Work: Why Awareness is the First Step to Effective Leadership
- Kelli
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
In today’s fast-paced and high-pressure work environments, it's easy to mistake a struggling employee's behavior as simple underperformance or attitude issues. But what if what you’re seeing is actually a trauma response?
At Silver Linings International, we believe that supervisors and organizational leaders have a critical role to play in creating supportive, trauma-informed workplaces. That starts with awareness—specifically, being able to identify how trauma manifests on the job.
Why Trauma Belongs in Workplace Conversations
Trauma isn’t just something that happens in people’s personal lives. Its effects often show up at work—especially when employees are navigating unresolved stress or adverse experiences, whether recent or long past. Supervisors might notice changes in productivity, interpersonal conflict, avoidance behaviors, or emotional volatility. Without the right context, these behaviors can be misread, leading to punitive responses instead of compassionate support.
That’s why our workshop, “Identifying Trauma Responses at Work,” focuses on building understanding around 16 distinct ways trauma can present in professional settings. From withdrawal and hypervigilance to emotional dysregulation and difficulty with authority, these responses are often subtle, complex, and easy to overlook.
What You'll Learn
Our workshop walks supervisors through 16 ways trauma can manifest in the workplace, helping them shift from a lens of judgment to one of compassion and understanding. Some of these trauma responses include:
Hypervigilance and defensiveness
Difficulty trusting colleagues or leadership
Overachievement as a coping mechanism
Emotional dysregulation, such as outbursts or shutdowns
Disconnection or emotional numbness
Perfectionism and fear of failure
Each response is unpacked with real-world context and practical examples. By the end of the session, participants will:
✅ Identify the 16 trauma manifestations
✅ Understand how these behaviors impact individual and team dynamics
✅ Develop actionable strategies for supportive, trauma-informed leadership
Learning by Doing: “Trauma Response Scenarios”
One of the most powerful parts of this workshop is our interactive group activity, where participants are presented with scenario cards illustrating trauma responses in workplace settings. These range from emotional outbursts in meetings to an employee who appears “checked out” or overly rigid in their routines.
In small groups, participants discuss what they see, name the trauma response, and brainstorm compassionate, effective ways to support the individual. This collaborative problem-solving not only builds empathy but also surfaces innovative solutions that can be implemented immediately.
Let’s Customize This for You
Every workplace is unique—and so is every trauma story. That’s why we offer customized versions of this workshop tailored to your field, whether you're in healthcare, education, social services, or corporate leadership. We’ll help you and your team address real-world challenges with relevant, sector-specific scenarios and solutions.
Ready to Learn More?
Our Trauma-Informed Supervision courses provide in-depth training for leaders looking to deepen their understanding and skills. These programs are especially valuable for HR professionals, team leads, and executives committed to fostering inclusive, trauma-aware workplaces.
👉 Explore our course offerings here👉 Or Contact us to bring a customized training to your organization.
Want to explore this topic further? Check out our blog posts:
Let’s build a workplace where people feel safe, seen, and supported—no matter what they’ve been through. Trauma-informed leadership isn’t just compassionate. It’s transformational.
