Ep 04: Let’s talk about grief at work: A must listen for all leaders

My Emotional Work Life

What happens when you have a colleague who is experiencing bereavement and you don’t know what to say? We're taking a look at emotional support in the workplace with host Jennifer McCanna and her guest Toby Oliver, a seasoned therapist and grief counsellor. Discover Toby's unique approach to understanding and navigating loss, from personal bereavement experiences to reshaping grief literacy in professional environments. Packed with compassionate insights, stories of empathetic breakthroughs, and strategies for fostering supportive work cultures, this episode offers guidance for managers, colleagues, and anyone committed to treating human beings like human beings in the workplace (especially if you’re not feeling so confident about how to go about it!)

Here are the Highlights:

• Introduction
• How society can make grief challenging
• Holding conversations about death
• Navigating grief, boundaries and support
• Understanding the varied emotions of grief
• How to embrace different emotional expressions
• Clear and supportive communication tips

I created this really gentle tap as a companion tap to my conversation with Toby is to help you check in with your feelings. I created it with the experience of grief in mind but it is so light touch that I hope it will be helpful, whatever is going on for you right now

Watch our Emotional Freedom Technique video

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world.

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader.

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

Follow her on LinkedIn here Jennifer McCanna PCC | LinkedIn

And on Instagram here Jen McCanna ⚡️Leadership Coach ⚡️EFT (@jen_the_leadership_coach) • Instagram photos and videos

Don’t forget to follow this podcast so you don’t miss an episode.

About Toby Oliver:

Toby Oliver is passionate about helping people to change, grow and take charge of their lives. Especially if they are struggling with any kind of loss, a bereavement, or a life limiting illness. Toby began his career working in the cultural and local government sectors before retraining as an Integrative Psychotherapist and grief counsellor.

He specialises in helping people deal better with anxiety, serious or life-limiting illness, and to cope with grief or loss. Alongside a thriving private practice, Toby works for a major cancer charity, for his local hospice and in corporate organisations across the country.

He is the co-author (with his sister, the business psychologist, Kate Oliver) of the multi-award-winning personal development book, Rise and Shine - How to transform your life, morning by morning. Described by The Telegraph as, “a simple yet revolutionary wake-up plan… it’s impossible not to feel inspired.”

You can buy Toby’s book “Rise and Shine” at https://linktr.ee/riseandshinebooks

Connect with Toby:

Website: www.eastviewtherapy.com

And even though he’s not so active on socials, you can find him here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobiasoliver/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tobyolivertherapy/

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk