The Grief in the Room - Why leaders must learn to do endings well
About this episode
David and Suzanne discuss the importance of acknowledging grief in professional transitions and its impact on leadership and teams.
In this deeply reflective episode, David and Suzanne explore a topic rarely named in organizational life — grief at work . They discuss how leaders and teams experience grief during professional transitions such as restructures, layoffs, leadership changes, or the end of major projects. Suzanne invites leaders to see beyond the familiar language of stress and burnout, recognizing that unacknowledged loss often lies beneath. The conversation bridges psychology, leadership, and systems thinking, linking grief to models like Kübler-Ross’s Stages of Grief , William Bridges’ Transition Model , and Sam Kaner’s Groan Zone . Together, they highlight that creating space for endings — to name, honor, and process what has been lost — allows new beginnings to emerge with clarity and trust. 💡 Key Concepts & Models Referenced Kübler-Ross’s Stages of Grief: Understanding emotional responses to loss — denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Anticipatory Grief: The anxiety and emotional weight of knowing change or loss is coming before it happens. William Bridges’ Transition Model: Moving through endings, the neutral zone (or “messy middle”), and new beginnings. Kaner’s Groan…
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