Crap is fertilizer. Post-traumatic growth is the norm. About 7 in 100 people experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in their lifetime.* Approximately 50 to 66 in 100 people experience post-traumatic growth (PTG).**
Ask questions that make PTG likely.
Post-traumatic growth:
My gratitude was up after I nearly died in a car accident. I enjoyed my family and friends more. I was more open. I felt confident that I could face the challenges of rehab.
PTG manifests in at least five distinct ways.
- Appreciation of life.
- Relationships with others.
- New possibilities in life.
- Personal strength.
- Spiritual change.
Wisdom often increases after trauma.***
- Intellectual humility.
- Open-mindedness.
- Understanding diverse perspectives.
- Empathy.
Questions that encourage PTG:
Acknowledge stress:
- What has been the most challenging part of this situation for you?
- What’s one thing you wish others understood about what you’re going through?
- How are you taking care of yourself during this time?
- What’s one small win or positive moment you’ve experienced despite the stress?
Build resilience:
- What strengths are we showing as a team during this challenge?
- How have we successfully navigated tough situations in the past?
- What’s helping us move forward?
- How can we support each other when uncertainty is high?
Change perspectives:
- What have we learned from this experience so far?
- How has this situation changed our priorities or focus?
- How have we become stronger as a team?
- What would you love to say about how we handled this a year from now?
Build relationships:
- What have people done to be helpful during this time?
- How can we make space to relieve stress?
- What’s something positive you’ve noticed about a teammate during this challenge?
How might leaders hinder post-traumatic growth?
How might leaders encourage post-traumatic growth?
Author’s note:
Age, gender, context, and income influence PTG and PTSD statistics. For example, high-income countries have higher rates of PTSD than low- to middle-income countries.
* https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
** https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/11/growth-trauma
** https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-021-01473-z
*** https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32897574/