Growing as a person and leader: A case study of work-related posttraumatic growth

Abstract

Although a personal crisis is never positive in itself, a long series of studies indicates that some individuals may subsequently experience a significant positive psychological change called post-traumatic growth. This also includes work-related effects, such as increased meaningfulness and prosocial leadership. This paper aims to create a deeper understanding of how these effects evolve by accounting for an in-depth case study of a manager’s personal and professional development over ten years following trauma. The paper examines work-related posttraumatic growth as an iterative process centered on qualitative shifts in sensemaking. The paper concludes by discussing implications for leadership development and suggestions for future research.