31 Mar 2025

Workplace wounds have the ability to dent one’s confidence, results in self doubt, cause anxiety, resentment as well as anger and stress.

To avoid this, human resource executive, Ms Deliwe Manyala has advised that employees should be appreciated, even for small things since that would motivating them. She was speaking at the Power to Heal event by Boity Experiential Events held Saturday at The Grand Palm where she said lack of recognition, favouritism, micro aggression and the manner in which feedback was relayed, contributed to workplace tauma. 

Leaders sometime lean more to non-performers and reward loyalty over talent. She advised leaders to be mindful of how they engaged with their teams saying they should not dismiss or silence them when they voiced their opinions but learn how to use words, body language and state of mind.

“Be healing leaders to your team and create a safe space for honest feedback and give credit where it is due,” said Ms Manyala.

Whilst leaders contribute to career wounds of employees, Ms Manyala said employees also cause themselves this trauma. She said employees often downplayed their value and worth, and internalised feedback rather than learning from it. Ms Manyala said they should receive feedback calmly and implement accordingly, and avoid conflict and confrontations.

Also, Ms Manyala said failure to self-advocate caused career wounds to an employee but advised workers to learn to stand up for themselves, showcase their work and believe in themselves.  Additionally, she said employees often sought validation especially from social media and tended to take that to work, but advised them to introspect and establish their contribution to their workplace. Ms Manyala advised employees and leaders to find healing by redefining success.

“Success does not need to be a promotion, it could mean being outspoken, learning a new skill, getting out of your comfort zone,” said Ms Manyala and encouraged them to always find a safe space to share stories and reach out to people they could trust such as mentors, friends and also normalise attending healing power and empowerment events.

Meanwhile, South African podcaster and author, Ms Mpoomy Ledwaba said people need to co-exist to have a purposeful life. She said people desired power for them to have authority and influence; whilst pleasure gave them satisfaction of life from positive experiences such as buying a car. She said power and pleasure were easy to attain while connection and purpose required self-work and people struggle with that.

Boity Experiential Events is an events company that prides itself with curation of themed events that deal with self-care, healing, empowerment, fulfilment and personal development targeting both men and women. ENDS