Leading Through the Storm: Navigating Collective Trauma, Uncertainty, and Change

Why is this important: Managers, supervisors, deans, and department heads have had their hands full over the past few years with quiet quitting, performance improvement plans, and distance employment. Little in recent history has had the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the workplace and in massive shifts in the higher education and K-12 environment, while also experiencing increasing conflicts among generations Z, millennials, gen x, and boomers in various supervisory and employee roles. Our panel of experts will offer some much-needed context to these leadership challenges while leaning into practical advice and guidance on how to navigate these difficult waters.

Program overview: This program will draw from the book, How to Engage in Difficult Conversations on Identity, Race, and Politics in Higher Education, as well as Dr. Fitch and Van Brunt’s book, A Guide to Leadership and Management in Higher Education: Managing Across the Generations, to better prepare teachers, faculty, administrators, and human resources to engage in these difficult conversations more effectively. The presenters define collective trauma and uncertainty, and stress the importance of increasing buy-in to leverage strengths and lived experiences against the backdrop of this changing work environment. They will share how this trauma has impacted individuals and how attending to diverse strengths and intersectionality across racial, gender, generational and disability differences can help bridge change. A review of successful (and not so successful) approaches to leadership and supervision will be discussed.

Group exercises, case examples and sample discussion questions will be provided to further the conversation. Handouts on a variety of topics including how to obtain buy-in from employees, faculty, and staff in a collaborative change model. Exercises, exploration questions, case studies, and discussion question will be covered in the program.

Participants will be able to:

• Define collective trauma and understand how this shared experience has compounded existing problems in leadership, management, and supervision.
• Involve staff in collaborative decision making to increase stakeholder buy-in.
• Discuss the role racial, gender, generational and disability differences play in their experience of collective trauma and uncertainty.
• Outline collaborative leadership strategies associated with successful outcome.
• Describe the key tenets of effective communication designed to increase positive outcomes.

Program includes:

• Online access to the live 90-minute program.
• A recorded version* of the program on www.trainingoutpost.com along with test questions and a compliance report for the administrator of a department, college, or university.
• Three interactive sample exercises to encourage discussion in school and college settings.
• A detailed handout outlining effective communication strategies to manage change in schools, colleges, and workplace.
• A summary of the sources of stigma (including stereotypes and misinformation) and ways to addressing stigma, including awareness, advocacy and community-building.
• A checklist for human resources staff to empower supervisors and managers to discuss collective trauma and offer understanding and obtain buy-in for change.
• Discussion questions for group discussion to continue after the live program.

* Access for one year after the date of the live program. Additional year(s) access available for 20% purchase price.