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What happens when grief shows up at work? For most organizations, the answer is nothing—and that silence costs more than you think.
Grief doesn’t clock out when we clock in. It follows us into meetings, shows up in missed deadlines, and lingers in team dynamics. Yet, most workplaces treat grief like an invisible guest—one that everyone knows is there but no one talks about.
Here’s the truth: Ignoring grief doesn’t make it go away. It burrows into the cracks of workplace culture, affecting morale, productivity, and trust. But when workplaces learn to acknowledge grief, they create space for resilience, connection, and, ultimately, a stronger team.
The Cost of Ignoring Grief in the Workplace
Grief takes many forms—personal loss, collective trauma, or even the loss of normalcy during times of change. According to the Grief Recovery Institute, unresolved grief costs U.S. businesses over $75 billion annually in lost productivity.
When grief is ignored:
Productivity suffers as employees struggle to focus.
Communication breaks down, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts.
Employees disengage, feeling unsupported and unseen.
But here’s the good news: Grief can also be a gateway to deeper trust and collaboration—if handled with care.
Why Leaders Need to Acknowledge Grief
Grief feels isolating, especially in professional settings where vulnerability can seem risky. When leaders acknowledge it, they send a powerful message: “You’re not alone.”
This simple act:
Normalizes emotions in the workplace.
Builds psychological safety, encouraging open communication.
Encourages resilience, creating teams that can weather challenges together.
How “Pausing for Clarity” Transforms Teams
You don’t need to be a therapist to address grief. You just need to create space for it.
Here’s one actionable shift you can make today: Pause for Clarity.
When tension, stress, or loss shows up in your team, take a moment to pause:
Acknowledge the Weight:Start a meeting or conversation with, “I know this has been a heavy time for many of us. Let’s take a moment to pause before diving in.”
Give Permission:Let your team know it’s okay not to have everything together: “You don’t need to be perfect today. Show up as you are.”
Offer Direction:Guide the team forward with a small, manageable next step: “What’s one thing we can focus on today to keep moving?”
This doesn’t require solving grief—it’s about creating a safe space for it to exist.
How I Can Help
I’ve spent my career working in the trenches of grief and resilience as a trauma therapist, veteran, and trainer. I know how these emotions play out in high-stakes environments—and how to navigate them.
Through workshops and keynotes, I teach organizations how to address grief, burnout, and stress in ways that create thriving teams. My approach is grounded in evidence-based methods like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), tailored to meet the unique challenges of your workplace.
For individuals who need deeper healing, I also offer EMDR Intensives—a focused approach to processing grief and trauma quickly and effectively.
Real-Life Impact: A Client Story
One organization I worked with had a team struggling after a sudden loss. Productivity was down, tensions were high, and no one knew how to address the elephant in the room.
Through a customized workshop, we introduced strategies to normalize grief, improve communication, and foster trust. Within weeks, the team reported:
Increased collaboration and morale.
More open, honest conversations.
A sense of connection that hadn’t been there before.
When grief is acknowledged, transformation happens.
Take the First Step
This National Grief Awareness Week, let’s start a new conversation about grief at work. It’s time to move past silence and create workplaces where resilience and connection can thrive.
For Organizations: Ready to equip your team with tools to navigate grief and stress? Let’s connect.For Individuals: Seeking deeper healing? My EMDR Intensives provide a focused, effective approach to move forward.
Final Thought
Grief doesn’t have to be a silent barrier in the workplace. With small, intentional shifts, it can become a stepping stone to stronger teams and better outcomes. The first step? Simply acknowledging it.
Let’s make resilience more than a buzzword—let’s make it the foundation of how we work.
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