The Human Face of Business - Dealing with Trauma

Recently, the Affable Partnership team came together for one of our regular catch ups. What started as a routine check-in evolved into a deeply human conversation about something that affects us all - trauma. We shared openly about the personal and professional challenges we’ve each faced, bereavement, chronic health conditions, mental health struggles, the impact of menopause and the lingering effects of toxic workplaces. It was raw, honest and most importantly, it was real.

One thing became abundantly clear, trauma doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care about your job title, your responsibilities or your years of service. It shows up differently for each of us, but it’s always there, shaping our thoughts, our energy and our ability to perform at work.

Meeting People Where They Are

One colleague spoke about the importance of understanding how experiences like adverse childhood events or personal losses can shape our health and emotional resilience later in life, especially during transitions like menopause. They noted that challenges like anxiety, brain fog and poor sleep are often misunderstood in the workplace, when in fact they may be signs of deeper, long term stressors. Their approach focuses on creating cultures where mental health and menopause are discussed openly and without stigma. When people feel seen and supported, engagement improves and so does trust.

Sharing to Build Trust

Another colleague shared their journey as a survivor of terminal brain cancer. Their vulnerability was powerful. They spoke about honesty as the foundation of community and healing, and how their lived experience has become a tool to help others. For them, it’s about meeting people without judgment, without labels, simply as humans. They reminded us that it’s okay to have bad days, to lose confidence and to lean into positivity, even when things feel hard.

In their words: “Trauma is a big word. It means something different to everyone. Just being next to someone and showing you’re willing to support them, with or without words, can make all the difference.”

What Can We Do as Employers?

This discussion reinforced a vital truth, you can’t afford to treat people like cogs in a machine. You need trauma informed workplaces that respect boundaries, create space for vulnerability and offer real, practical support.

Which means:

• Workshops that blend clinical understanding with real life experience (mental health, menopause, grief and beyond).

• Manager training to respond compassionately and effectively.

• Peer support programmes to build internal resilience.

• Policies that do more than sit in a handbook, they guide how you lead, respond and care.

  
  

It also means collaborating with external experts, people who bring objectivity, specialist insight and confidentiality. You cannot (and should not) do this work alone. As one colleague said, “Partnering with experts shows employees that their wellbeing is a real priority, not just a policy.”

The Culture We Choose

A healthy workplace isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to ask better questions. It’s about noticing when someone is struggling and not turning away. It’s about the small, consistent actions that say, You Matter Here.

If you want a human centred business, you must start by acknowledging that every team member carries something, whether that be joy, pain, growth, loss. When you hold space for that truth, you build not only a stronger organisation but a more compassionate one.

Let’s continue to lead with empathy.