Safety is the foundation of a trauma informed culture; because when we are unsafe, it’s hard to be focused on much else. As we look at Safety in the context of trauma informed workplaces, it is best represented by a three-legged stool. Safety is built by the three legs of physical safety, psychological safety, and financial safety. If any of the three are missing or damaged- your stool won’t work and you won’t be able to build a robust, trauma informed culture on it.

Trust exists within various relationships and to build a trauma informed culture, you must seek to build trust at every level within the organization- peer to peer, within a team, employee to manager, team to leader, among teams, and for the organization as a whole.

Transparency is an excellent tool to build trust. Sharing information in and open, candid and frequent way with your team helps them understand what is going on in the organization and helps them better connect their roles to the company overall.

A strong, supportive community can buffer against the negative effects of trauma. When individuals have access to supportive relationships, such as family, friends, trusted co-workers, or community groups, they are more likely to receive emotional support, understanding, and validation. Connecting with others who have gone through similar experiences can make you feel understood and realize your reactions and emotions are valid. A supportive community can also be pivotal in rebuilding trust.

In the context of the workplace, community refers to a sense of belonging, connection, and mutual support among employees within the organization. It is a collective identity that extends beyond individual roles and departments, and many communities exist within a single organization.

Collaboration is key to a trauma informed culture, tackling the challenge of power imbalances and how those imbalances can be misused to harm or traumatize others. By acknowledging and addressing power, you create a much better environment for everyone on your team.

Because a feeling of lack of control or helplessness can be so tied to trauma, empowerment is one of the most important principles in creating a trauma informed workplace culture.

Empowerment in the context of a trauma informed workplace is about more than choice, it is also about environments where individuals feel valued and that they are making a meaningful contribution. For that reason, we examine the concept of empowerment in a trauma informed culture in four distinct parts- choice, strengths leveraged, recognition, and growth.

Imperfection is unavoidable, in trauma informed cultures, the key is to recognize this with humility and respond in a meaningful way — both to repair potential harm and to help the organization learn and grow more inclusively.

There is of course an intersection of the work of trauma informed workplaces and DEI initiatives. These organizational priorities should exist both independently and interdependently to ensure they are leveraged to address both DEI efforts and trauma informed efforts fully. But make no mistake, to address the lived experiences of all employees, organizations should have robust and thoughtful diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.