4 ways smart people cope at work after a terrorist attack

4 ways smart people cope at work after a terrorist attack4 ways smart people cope at work after a terrorist attackOn Monday, a terrorist bombingkilled at least 22 people, including children, and injured at least 59 more peoplewho were attending an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England.It is Britains deadliest terrorist attack since 2005. On Tuesday, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May raised the threat level from severe to critical, a level which means thatanother attack is believed to be imminent.If you were like me, you stayed glued to news alerts and updates, you readheart-wrenching tales of parents searching for their children, you learned about the lives of victims as young as eight years old. The magnitude of tragedycan be overwhelming.The days after a terrorist attacklike this, its normal for your heart to feel heavy, for your mind to wander elsewhere.There are extensive guides on how to talk to children about terrorism, and some of their recommendations apply to working ad ults.1. Validate your employees feelingsThe worst thing you can do is to not allow your employees to talk about the news. Its already on their minds and not allowing them to talk about it feels like youre dismissing their normal emotions of grief and dorfwiese as irrational.For both children and adults, if someone says Im scared, dont reply with a provably false statement like, there is no reason to be scared. Instead, say, you have every right to be scared.Thats the advice clinical psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen has for children that applies to adults when you hear fears, normalize their feelings. Its okay to be scared in a scary time.2. Highlight human resources availableManagers in the workplace can also validate employees feelings by highlightingmental health resources available and telling employees that if they need a space to talk, theyre available.One U.K. human resources official emphasizes making sure staff can have a confidential space to vent their feelings and concer ns.If anyone is feeling distressed about any issues, including terror threats, we have a 24-hour confidential counseling service they can phone to get support, HR director Sally Hopper said about the service London Legacy Development Corporation offers.3. Have difficult conversationsThese are sensitive moments when everyones emotions are running high. It can be easy to get defensive about your opinions but remember that not everyone shares them. Instead of speaking on behalf of a nation, speak on behalf of yourself.For ansicht difficult yet productive water-cooler conversations,Money magazine recommends using statements like from my perspective or This is a reaction Im having to be respectful of your colleagues differing beliefs.Where the conversation turns risky, though, is when people are looking for a solution to the event, David Maxfield, vice president of research at VitalSmarts, said. Thats not something any employer or employee can answer.4. Take a break from newsWith social media platforms, news push notifications, and 24-hour cable news cycles, its easy to tune in to the latest developments and viral horrors at a moments notice. Video loops of panic on cable television are not always informative they can be exploitative, and they can exacerbate negative feelings. Try to be mindful of what news youre consuming and when you choose to do it.By endlessly repeating peoples worst moments on screen, these videos of graphic violence canperpetuate traumas symptoms creating a world where there is no beginning or end to the horror and you can never attain closure from it. A 2014 study found that daily exposure to violentnews causedemotional and physical distress.The journalists in the studywho watched violent video footage as parte of their jobs were likely to become overly sensitized to violence or desensitized and numbed to it, neither of which are healthy reactions.You can stay informed without being overwhelmed. Make time to turn off the TV and log off of Tw itter. Take breathers, hug your loved ones, and remind yourself that youre not defined by this one moment or terrible event. Well get through it together.