Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this research was to establish trauma inspired leadership as a concept for further investigation and to provide foundational knowledge for trauma survivors who wish to engage in prosocial action. Though trauma survivors often emerge as leaders in prosocial causes related to their own negative experiences, little was known about this transition, and little guidance was available to survivors who desired to make prosocial contributions. By exploring successful journeys as reported by trauma inspired leaders themselves, I sought to discover what enabled them to rise from pain to purpose and to provide potential leaders with a path that might otherwise elude them. Methodology. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (Smith, Flowers, & Larkin, 2012), this exploratory, qualitative study examined the narratives of eight trauma inspired leaders to discover the characteristics of their leadership journeys. Data were collected from previously published autobiographies and analyzed both holistically and thematically. Findings. Holistic analyses identified a number of important components of trauma inspired leadership, including perspective enlargement, identification with the suffering, the creation of compassionate connections, and resilience in the face of humiliation, rejection, or additional trauma. Quantified analysis across narratives identified multiple themes within the broad categories of leader motivation, leadership action types, leadership barriers emerged, the role of others, missteps, self-care, and concurrent faith journey. Overall, the most frequently cited themes were thought bigger and cause rejection. Concurrent posttraumatic distress was also seen in most or all leadership narratives. Conclusions. Perspective enlargement and resilience in times of cause rejection emerged as the two most frequently cited antecedents to the development of trauma inspired leadership. Most of the leaders also reported ongoing symptoms of posttraumatic distress. Recommendations. This study lays the groundwork for continued exploration of the leadership journeys of trauma survivors who rise to prosocial service. On the pragmatic level, it initiates understanding of how trauma inspired leadership development might be facilitated and encouraged through equipping survivors to develop broad perspectives and resilience.