Today's conversation with Julie Wright Halbert reminds us that grief is not something people leave at home when they come to work. It follows them into meetings, affects their concentration, changes their relationships, and sometimes alters the way they see themselves and their future. We talked about why grief literacy matters in leadership, why organizations need to recognize that loss takes many forms, and how simple acknowledgment and human connection can make a meaningful difference. Perhaps the most important takeaway is this: Leaders don't need to have all the answers. They don't need to fix what cannot be fixed. Sometimes leadership means recognizing that someone is struggling and making sure they don't have to pretend otherwise.
Today on Your Partner In Success Radio, we're going to talk about something that touches every one of us, whether we acknowledge it or not. It's something that follows people into their homes, their relationships, and yes, right into the workplace.
It's grief.
And I'm not talking exclusively about the loss of someone we love. Grief takes many forms. It can come from divorce, illness, caregiving, a major life transition, a difficult diagnosis, or even the loss of a beloved pet.
Here's something worth considering: What happens when an employee who is grieving walks into work on Monday morning, sits down at their desk, and is expected to perform just as they did the week before?
Do their colleagues recognize what's happening? Does their manager? Or does everyone simply assume they're distracted, disengaged, or not pulling their weight?
My guest today believes that grief literacy needs to become an essential leadership skill. And I think this is a conversation business owners, executives, managers, and anyone who works with other human beings needs to hear.
Julie Wright Halbert, Esq., is a death doula, transformational soul coach, and national advocate for grief literacy.
Following the sudden death of her young husband, and after decades of public service as a national education attorney, Julie's life and work took a profound turn. Today, she guides individuals and families in living and dying awake and meeting life's endings with greater presence and awareness.
She is the founder of Rising Phoenix LIFE, the author of 'Live and Die Awake on Love, Loss and Living Fully' Is working on an forthcoming book 'Divine Ashes Ascending'. Her work and insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
Connect with Julie Wright Halbert: Website: RisingPhoenix.life | Julie is also offering our listeners access to a meditation designed to support growth, clarity, and emotional alignment. You can find it at: Rising Phoenix LIFE Meditations
SPONSORED BY: Today’s show is brought to you by Stephen K. De Silva — author, speaker, financial coach, and founder of Prosperous Soul Ministries.
If you’ve ever felt like no matter how hard you work, you just can’t seem to get ahead financially — Stephen’s book Money and the Prosperous Soul: Tipping the Scales of Favor and Blessing was written for you. Stephen combines practical financial wisdom with biblical truth to help you break through the cycles and wrong thinking that keep so many people stuck. This isn’t just another money book — it’s a transformation from the inside out.
Pick up your copy of Money and the Prosperous Soul wherever books are sold, and learn more about Stephen’s coaching, resources, and ministry at StephenKDeSilva.com.