Monday, June 29, 2020

Learning the hard way Trauma as managerial growth

Written by Dr Amy Armstrong, faculty member at Ashridge Executive Education at Hult.  This blog is based on Dr Armstrongs PhD thesis (2014) Im a better manager: A biographic narrative study of the impact of personal trauma on the professional lives of managers in the UK, Aston University. When asked about their most powerful learning experiences to date, managers often cite experiences outside of the work environment. It is personal hardships that are quoted, such as family breakdown, illness, or the death of a loved one, yet more often than not, these experiences remain hidden from work. This is because in many work contexts people fruitlessly strive to keep their personal lives separate. As one HR Director recently said to me â€Å"if anyone in my team knows I’m having a bad day, then I’ve failed†. The prevailing culture in many organizations is one where people are expected to put on a brave face, so their true feelings are not shown and their personal struggles are not shared. As a consequence, the powerful learning that is present in experiences of hardship remains unsurfaced. I spent six years immersed in a study on this topic and found that despite intense suffering, managers who had experienced personal hardship, such as illness or bereavement, described their traumas as instrumental to their professional development. My study explored a concept which has emerged from the field of positive psychology called post-traumatic growth (Calhoun Tedeschi, 2006; Tedeschi Calhoun, 1996; 2004), which is the idea that despite acute distress, many individuals report positive psychological changes following trauma. Individuals can experience growth in different ways. Some talk of increased personal strength, that is to say they believe they are emotionally and psychologically stronger than before their trauma. Others talk about discovering a new life path or a new philosophy on life that was not present before. Some people describe positive changes in their relationships as a result of their trauma, such as increased openness and self-disclosure and a greater emotional connection with others. Others talk of changing life priorities and a greater appreciation of the small things in life. Finally, previous research on post-traumatic growth has found some individuals report increased spirituality or finding faith as a result of their trauma. One of the problems with previous research is that it was focused on post-traumatic growth among professionals working in ‘extreme’ settings, such as disaster recovery work, the military and the emergency services. These settings are atypical and therefore it is difficult to draw learning in support of management and leadership development. However, my study was the first study of its kind to look at growth through trauma among managers working in ‘everyday’ work environments and the results were fascinating. The managers involved described their traumas as their catalyst for growth. ‘Managerial growth’ emerged during their descriptions of the positive changes that occurred in the way that they managed others as a result of their trauma. For example, some managers talked about their trauma as helping them learn to ‘let go’ and to trust and empower their direct reports. Others talked about leading with increased emotional intelligence and compassion. Some talked about being more open and honest with their team by sharing their true feelings at work, which they believed helped to build trust and counter-disclosure. These findings connect directly to the concept of authentic leadership (Avolio, Griffith, Wernsing, Walumbwa, 2010) whereby leaders are encouraged to learn from ‘trigger events’ such as personal trauma. My research argues that if we can create ‘safe’ situations in which leaders and managers can talk about personal hardship, these ‘trigger’ experiences are critical moments of learning and can help the leader to understand themselves and their own strengths; their behaviours under pressure and their coping mechanisms. If we give leaders and managers the time and space to self-reflect with the support of others, the culmination of this is heightened self-awareness, which we all know lies at the heart of effective and authentic leadership. To learn about Hult’s Global  One-Year MBA, download a  brochure. Listen to Dr Amy Armstrongs webinar to learn more about her research into this fascinating topic. References: Avolio, B.J., Griffith, J, Wernsing, T.S., Walumbwa, F.O. (2010) What is authentic leadership development? In A. P. Linley, Harrington, S., Garcea, N., (Ed.), Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology and Work (pp. 289-297): Oxford University Press. Calhoun, L.G., and Tedeschi, R.G. Ed. (2006). The Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth: Research and Practice, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Tedeschi, R.G., and Calhoun, L.G. (1996). The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: Measuring the Positive Legacy of Trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 9(3), 455-471. Tedeschi, R.G., and Calhoun, L.G. (2004). Posttraumatic Growth: Conceptual Foundations and Empirical Evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1-18. Amy Armstrong BA (Hons), MBA, PhD Is a faculty member in Ashridge Qualifications for Ashridge Executive Education at Hult. Her research and teaching interests sit in the field of organisational behaviour and include engagement, well-being, resilience, toxicity, compassion and emotions at work. Amy is Academic Director on a new Masters in Leadership program that is due to launch in 2017 and is also curating the leadership module on Executive MBA for the Creative Industries. Amy recently returned to Ashridge from the University of Bedfordshire where she was a Senior Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour. She was previously an Ashridge a faculty member for ten years, engaging in research, working with a variety of corporate clients, and leading graduate programmes. Amy is a Visiting Fellow at Aston University. She also leads research into barriers to engagement for Engage for Success, a Government-led movement which is seeking to improve engagement and well-being levels across the U.K. See Amy Armstrongs full bio and publications list. Step up your game with executive education at Ashridge agile business school. To find out more, take a look at our blog Career mapping: How to become an executive in the next 5 years, or firm up your exec career footing with a Masters in International Business from Hult. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you learn everything about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .

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