On September 4th 2010 a substantial earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale rocked Christchurch. Suddenly managers and leaders were required not only to help their team continue delivering against business requirements, but also operate in a working environment that saw over 2,500 aftershocks within an eight week period. I was asked to provide a coaching tool to support some of those managers and I hope that you find this information useful.

Trauma is a central part of the human experience. One formal definition of a traumatic event is; ...any event that can be considered to be outside of the individuals usual experience and which has the potential to cause physical, emotional or psychological harm.

Different people respond to traumatic events in different ways. Many of us can experience quite profound distress - emotional and physical - in the immediate days and weeks afterwards.

However, some individuals can find themselves more profoundly impacted - either the distress doesn't get any better, or it resurfaces unexpectedly. Either way, it can be a confusing and sometimes distressing experience.

Regardless of how you have experienced the earthquake, it can be helpful to take a few moments to reflect on what happened so that if you ever face similar circumstances in the future you are even better resourced and feel more prepared.

Ask yourself the following questions (or modify them so that you can work with your team to complete a review...you might even decide to complete this review with your family).

• What was your existing plan for coping with a natural disaster like the earthquake?

• How were you hoping that things would work out, if the worst ever happened?
• What was your team's understanding of the action that they should take in an emergency like this?

• What did you think were the main things that were going to cause you concern, or lead to issues following a natural disaster like this?
• How did you - or your team actually react or respond when the earthquake struck?
• In reality, what did you do during the first few days after the earthquake?

• What were the main emotions or feelings that you - or your team - experienced?
• What went really well in the first few days of the earthquake?
• What do you think could have gone even better?
• What do you wish you had done differently?
• What had you already prepared for which came in the most useful?
• What caused (or is causing) you - or your team - the most concern since the earthquake?

• On reflection, how would you have liked to react or respond differently when the earthquake struck?
• How would you have preferred that your team reacted or responded?
• What could you have done differently in the first few days since the earthquake?
• With the benefit of hindsight, how prepared do you think you were for the earthquake?
• What lessons have you learned as a result of the earthquake?
• What would you do differently next time?
• What changes would you like to make to your emergency plans? Visit www.getthru.govt.nz for some ideas!
• Where else could you go for information that will help you to ensure that you are even better prepared next time?
• If you were able to do one thing to reduce your level of concern, right now what could it be?

• Looking at what you would do differently next time, is there any action that you need to take right now in order to ensure that things are different if this happens again?
• Who is going to be responsible for making those changes?
• Are there any changes that you need to plan for in the longer term?
• Is there anybody that needs to be involved in helping you to make that change?
• When will we check back to review the changes that you have made to ensure that you will cope even better next time?
• How can I support you the best right now?

In addition to coaching teams, managers asked me for some ideas about questions to help them to encourage people to focus on the positive, as opposed to dwelling on their loss.

These questions should not replace professional counseling and I would recommend that if your company provides access to formal employee assistance programmes you encourage staff members to consider using them.

Of course, there is also benefit to you accessing this support yourself - if you have a robust coping strategy of your own then you are in a much more powerful position to be able to help to support your team.

• How have things changed for the better since the earthquake?
• What positive differences have you noticed since the earthquake; at home? At work? In your team?
• How might things be different in the future?
• What changes have you noticed to give you hope at work? At home? In your team?

About the author

Kathryn Jackson is an executive coach based in Christchurch. She's very grateful that her office in the centre of town sustained no damage at all, and she has offered it to other small businesses who lost their premises. Her house is another story and she's looking forward to planning a new home in 2011...preferably one with double glazing!