Are you walking into meetings wondering why that high-performing team member suddenly shuts down during feedback? Or why your most talented employee seems to overreact to simple workplace conversations? You're witnessing something most leadership training never addresses—the invisible impact of trauma in your workplace.

What if I told you that 80% of employees have experienced workplace trauma, and it's affecting their performance in ways you've never considered? Today's conversation with Elizabeth Vahey Smith will completely change how you understand what's really happening with your team.

Elizabeth is COO of TCK Training, a certified Trauma Informed Care Practitioner, and author of Trauma Informed Leadership. She's conducted extensive research on workplace trauma, surveying hundreds of professionals while traveling through 27 countries with her family. Her findings reveal the hidden patterns that are quietly undermining psychological safety in organizations worldwide.

This isn't about becoming a therapist—it's about becoming the kind of leader who sees people fully and creates environments where they can actually perform at their best.

What You'll Discover in This Episode:

The shocking 80% statistic about workplace trauma prevalence and what it means for your team's performance.How "little t" traumas create more workplace triggers than major life events—and why this matters for daily interactions.The difference between cultural adaptation and trauma responses—and how to tell which one you're dealing with.Why curiosity-led conversations are the most powerful tool for building psychological safety across cultures and backgrounds.The hidden cost of trauma-driven high performance—when your best employees are actually burning out faster than you realize.

Elizabeth reveals the common workplace triggers that send people into fear responses, the specific leadership behaviors that either build or erode psychological safety, and practical strategies for managing up when your own boss might be operating from a place of fear.

If you're leading globally mobile teams, managing across cultures, or simply wondering why some of your most capable people seem to struggle with seemingly simple workplace interactions, this conversation provides the framework you need to lead with both compassion and effectiveness.

The leaders who understand this aren't just creating better workplaces—they're protecting their bottom line through improved retention, engagement, and performance.

00:00:00Introduction and Workplace Trauma Reality

00:03:02Elizabeth's Global Leadership Formation

00:08:15How Trauma Shows Up in the Workplace

00:12:30

00:00:00The Hidden Reality of Workplace Trauma

00:02:58From Papua New Guinea to Global Leadership

00:07:19Understanding Big T vs Little T Trauma at Work

00:11:59Building Psychological Safety Through Curiosity

00:15:56Trauma vs Cultural Differences in the Workplace

00:19:55The Unexpected Benefits of Trauma Experience

00:26:52Preventing Burnout Through Recovery Skills

00:30:27Research Insights on Workplace Psychological Safety

00:37:34Managing Fear-Based Leadership and Dark Triad Personalities

00:42:29Connecting with Trauma-Informed Leadership Resources

@loriadams-brown @elizabethvaheysmith @tcktraining9213
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