Magic in the Room #69: Leading When People Experience Trauma with Chris King
September 28, 2021
We must learn to be honest about the trauma people experience, and lead with care and compassion.
When we experience physical trauma, such as a skinned knee or a broken bone, we are well equipped to deal with it. We know when to put on a bandage or go to the doctor. However, when people experience mental or emotional trauma, leaders are often unsure how to care for them. In this episode of Magic in the Room, guest Chris King joins Luke and Hannah to discuss leading when people experience trauma.
Chris King is a licensed therapist in the state of Oklahoma (LPC) and operates a private practice with several therapists serving people in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Find more at chriskingcounseling.com.
Research in this episode:
- Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
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Music by evangrimmusic.com
Recorded at storycatcher.studio
Support from techblogwriter.co.uk
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Luke, Hannah, and Chris unpack the difference between being busy and being truly impactful, exploring why organizations often get stuck in high-activity, low-impact cycles. They identify five common contributors: compliance-heavy environments, resistance to change, disconnected decision-makers, fear-driven “CYA” cultures, and firefighting systems that reward heroics over long-term strategy. From there, they highlight what creates real impact: clarity of purpose, agency, curiosity, intentionality, and the discipline to question assumptions and align action with a meaningful “why.” The conversation encourages leaders to build awareness of their strengths, design systems that support healthy impact, maintain congruence between their public and private influence, and cultivate the kind of presence that can genuinely move a room.
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Chris interviews board members from the National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA) discussing the power of purpose-driven leadership within tribal organizations. Recorded at the NNAHRA annual conference, they explore themes like courage, vulnerability, accountability, community service, and fostering environments where all employees feel valued and able to contribute. They share how NNAHRA builds a supportive professional network for tribal HR leaders, encourages alignment between individual roles and tribal purpose, and creates space for courageous conversations across governance and enterprise structures. They also discuss future initiatives, including new certifications and the 2026 conference at the Hilton Village in Hawaii. The overarching message: lead with purpose, support one another, and build cultures rooted in respect, courage, and shared responsibility.