Questions that Encourage Post-Traumatic Growth
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/
Thank you Dan for your daily wisdom
My pleasure, Bart.
How might leaders encourage post-traumatic growth?
1. Can you forgive the person or people who hurt?
2. Can you let go of your anger?
3. What would it take for you to forgive the person who hurt you?
4. What would help you let go of the negative emotions you are feeling?
I feel the difference between 1&2 and 3&4. The last two feel forward looking. Thanks, Paul.
What a compilation of great questions that reach the heart of moving forward! Amazing as always!
Thanks, Philip. Spring is coming. We’re hitting the low 50’s today! Looks like you might be warming up too. 🙂
I needed these questions today!!! Great timing Dan! Thank you for sharing.
Go gettem!
Great questions for reflection, I am in public higher education, and we are dealing with chaos, to say the least, in the last couple of months. I feel today’s wisdom will serve us well. Sharing this with my colleagues in the HR management team. Thanks, Dan.