Building a Trauma-Informed Workplace (Part 5 of 6)
Empowerment, Voice and Choice
Reading time: 5 to 7 minutes
At the heart of trauma-informed practice is the belief that people thrive when they feel heard, valued, and empowered. The same is true for workplaces. Empowerment, voice, and choice are not just about client services—they must extend to the professionals providing care.
Research indicates that when staff feel powerless in their roles, burnout accelerates, and turnover often follows. Conversely, when employees feel empowered and included in decision-making, engagement rises, stress decreases, and organizations retain staff longer.
When empowerment, voice, and choice are prioritized:
Staff feel their contributions matter and are more likely to stay and invest in the work.
Supervisors gain stronger teams by involving staff in decisions and sharing responsibility for problem-solving.
Administrators build credibility and buy-in by creating feedback loops where staff input shapes policy and practice.
What does this look like in practice?
For staff, empowerment may mean naming one specific change that could make your workload more manageable and sharing it with a supervisor or team. Even small shifts—like adjusting meeting schedules—can make a big difference.
For supervisors, empowerment is built by asking: “What part of this process can you take the lead on?” This fosters ownership and shared responsibility.
For administrators, empowerment means not only gathering staff feedback, but also reporting back: “Here’s what we heard, and here’s how it’s shaping decisions.”
The absence of empowerment is costly. When people feel voiceless, they disengage. But when staff experience meaningful choice in their work, they develop resilience and commitment (Sweeney et al., 2021). Empowerment also enhances client services: when staff feel capable and trusted, they are more responsive, innovative, and attuned to the needs of their clients.
We must take a serious look at how our systems either silence or amplify staff voices. Trauma-informed workplaces do not just invite staff opinions—they integrate them into action.
Try this strategy: At the end of each week, write down one strength you brought to your work. Naming your contributions reinforces a sense of empowerment.
Something to ponder: In what ways do I feel my voice is heard—or silenced—in my workplace?