When Grief Gets Physical

Your high performing, high potential employee, shows up to work on Monday looking like this. Would you recognize this as a sign this employee might be emotionally traumatized or grieving? He is.
He has seen a dramatic shift in his reality over the past several months, and the emotional trauma has manifested itself physically. (1)

His teenage daughter has left the house to be with her unemployed boyfriend, and neither have a place to live.
His young son’s school will be closed until the first of the year due to COVID. As a result, his spouse will have to quit her job, forcing them to give up the second income they desperately need.

Not only are his future financial dreams evaporating, but now they struggle to pay their current bills.
This picture is a physical manifestation of the grief this employee is feeling. Poor work performance could be the next sign to appear.

So what should a leader do in this situation?
A) Engage the employee in an honest, albeit uncomfortable discussion about what is transpiring in the employee’s life, focusing on making it easy for the employee to be honest in their response.
B) Pay close attention to this employee, their appearance, their attitude, and their performance.
C) Don’t wait for performance to slip to communicate more with this employee.
D) Make adjustments to the employee’s workload, work hours, or responsibilities at the first sign of trouble.

By taking these steps, the leader will be able to help this employee navigate through this difficult time. Failure to do so will result in inevitable productivity losses.
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To learn more about how leaders can help grieving employees excel at work, order your copy of our new book, “The Dying Art of Leadership,” now available at the Bookbaby bookstore website and on Amazon. Click here to order About Our Book

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⁽¹⁾ Angioedema is a condition of swelling, discoloration, and itching hives often brought about by high stress and an inconsistent and poor diet. It is often manifest in swollen lips, eyes, and painful, itchy lumps.

Anthony Casablanca

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