Your Career: What to Do if You Inherit a Wounded Workgroup

People are often surprised that taking over from a bad leader can be much harder than following an admired one. ADVERTISEMENT [Your Career Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. People are often surprised that taking over from a bad leader can be much harder than following an admired one. New leaders need to consider the possibility that people in an underperforming department, school, administrative unit, or institution have experienced workplace trauma that is impeding their ability to be personally and collectively effective. “Trauma” can seem like a very loaded word. When we think of workplace trauma, what often comes to mind is an extreme form of trauma, such as the fallout from a tragic event on campus. Higher-education workplaces tend to be sophisticated nowadays in their handling of such events but are less likely to have established standards or resources for supporting the recovery of those traumatized by neglectful or abusive leaders. As a result, it is often up to new leaders to figure out how to move a fragile or fractured workgroup forward. Here are a few ideas to get you started: - Aim to create a bridge from your group’s difficult past to a better collective future. That begins by creating space for processing and listening. Those who have been traumatized by a past leader often need to explore and reflect on what happened, how it felt, how the experience continues to affect them, and what they need to move forward. Most important, they need you as the new leader to listen to what they say and acknowledge what they experienced. - Consider whether your leadership approach is likely to support the group’s growth or exacerbate existing trauma. If you have a hands-off or a command-and-control style, things are unlikely to go well. To be effective, you will need to use trauma-informed leadership practices. What does that kind of leadership look like in action? It happens to look a lot like the kind of good leadership that should be demonstrated in all settings, regardless of whether trauma has occurred. Continue reading: “[How to Heal a Wounded Workgroup You Inherit]( by Allison M. Vaillancourt Share your suggestions for the newsletter with Denise Magner, an editor at The Chronicle, at denise.magner@chronicle.com. If you’d like to opt out, you can log in to our website and [manage your newsletter preferences here](. ADVERTISEMENT SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. 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