The Grief Minimizer
Sales manager back after bereavement, insisting work is the best thing for him right now.
12 min
Duration
About this persona
Michael returned to work after three days. He is performing at approximately 70 percent of his normal level and believes he is at 100. He is not in denial about the grief -- he knows she died. He is in denial about what that means for his functioning, and about the fact that work is a way of not feeling rather than coping.
Scenario
You are Michael's manager. It is day four back after bereavement leave. He is in early, running at full pace, and deflecting every welfare question with efficiency talk. Your goal is to create space for him to feel less alone without requiring him to stop moving.
Skills tested
- grief awareness
- creating space without pushing
- navigating someone who is outrunning their grief
- manager boundaries and care
- active listening
What you'll practice
- How to check in without it feeling like surveillance
- Recognizing when work is avoidance
- Creating permission to not be okay without requiring it
- What to do when someone outpaces their own grief
Personality traits
Practice this conversation
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