Supporting a Co-Worker Experiencing Grief: How Culture, Values, and Principles Support a Team Approach to Helping Someone Through Loss

Jan 23, 2023

Willard Powell’s culture, values, and principles all support a team approach to helping someone through the difficult process of grieving the loss of a loved one.

One of the key values of Willard Powell is empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, and it is essential when helping someone through grief. By showing empathy, team members are able to create a safe and supportive environment where the person who is grieving can feel heard and understood. This can also help to build trust and create a sense of belonging, which is crucial when someone is going through a difficult time.

Another important value of Willard Powell is collaboration. Collaboration is key when it comes to supporting someone through grief. Team members work together to provide a range of different perspectives, ideas and strategies for coping with grief. By working together, team members can ensure that the person who is grieving is getting the best possible support, and can also help to build a sense of community and belonging.

Willard Powell’s culture also emphasizes the importance of creating a culture of care and support. This can include things like providing opportunities for team members to connect with each other, promoting open communication, and creating a sense of belonging. All of these elements can help to create a culture that supports people who are going through difficult times, such as grief.

Willard Powell’s principles emphasize the importance of continuous improvement. This principle can be applied to supporting someone through grief by continually looking for new ways to support, and understanding that there is no one size fit all solution and the process is unique to every individual.

Overall, Willard Powell’s culture, values, and principles all support a team approach to helping someone through the difficult process of grieving the loss of a loved one. By fostering empathy, collaboration, a culture of care, and continuously looking for ways to improve, Willard Powell teams can provide the support and understanding needed to navigate this difficult time and come out stronger on the other side.

Ways To Support a Grieving Co-Worker:

  • Offer your condolences and let them know that you are there for them.
  • Offer to help with any tasks or responsibilities they may be struggling to manage.
  • Encourage them to take time off if they need it.
  • Check in with them regularly, but also respect their privacy and give them space if they need it.
  • Be a good listener and offer a listening ear if they need to talk about their loss.
  • Help them to connect with Assistance Programs or other resources that may be available to help them cope with their loss.
  • Be understanding and flexible with deadlines and work expectations during this difficult time.
  • Help to create a supportive and understanding work environment by educating your colleagues about the grieving process and how they can support their coworker.
  • Show your support by being present, being understanding and being respectful of their feelings and needs.

If you are interested in reviewing similar content in the future, consider following Willard Powell on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/willard-powell-inc/

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About

David McInnis

President & Founding Partner

David has two decades of global recruitment experience and is Founding Partner of Willard Powell. Prior to founding Willard Powell, David worked with Leathwaite International, a global executive search firm. Before his employment with Leathwaite, David worked for Wachovia Securities (now Wells Fargo Securities) supporting the firm’s Investment Banking & Capital Markets Technology group. David is a graduate of Lasell College in Newton, MA, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a concentration in Management Information Systems. David also serves as a Trustee on Lasell’s Board.