Leading While Grieving with Hannah Wachter - RAL 81
Nov 22, 2023
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Hannah Wachter, an executive grief coach, shares her journey from a grieving daughter to a coach challenging misconceptions of grief. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and accepting grief and discusses how fear can impact the grieving process. The conversation offers valuable advice on honoring loved ones while processing grief, making it a must-listen for those who have experienced loss.
Acknowledging and accepting grief is crucial for personal growth and leadership development.
Fear can manifest as a significant aspect of grief, impacting the grieving process deeply.
Leaders should lead with vulnerability, embracing their struggles openly to foster empathy and understanding in their teams.
Deep dives
Honoring Grief and Love for a Lost Loved One
The speaker expresses a deep love for their late mother, emphasizing that they never want to forget or get over the loss. They reject the idea of being defined by grief but aim to honor and cherish the memory of their mother. Through sharing their personal experience, they highlight the importance of processing grief with the support of others and growing alongside it.
Understanding and Defining Grief
The discussion delves into defining grief as a natural response to loss, encompassing conflicting feelings due to changes in familiar behavior patterns. Grief is likened to love with no outlet, leading to emotional tension and struggles to express affection. The comparison of grief to the sensation of phantom limb emphasizes the sense of disconnection and yearning for a lost connection, contributing to feelings of isolation and disorientation.
Leading Through Grief with Vulnerability
The conversation emphasizes the importance of leading with the heart, promoting vulnerability and authenticity over putting up a facade of strength. Leaders are encouraged to acknowledge their struggles and communicate openly with their team, fostering a supportive environment that values empathy and understanding. By embracing vulnerability and allowing for non-linear grieving experiences, leaders can create a space for genuine connection and growth.
Navigating Grief with Self-Compassion and Boundaries
The episode suggests coping with grief by establishing self-compassion and setting boundaries to navigate the unpredictable emotional journey. Encouragement is given to acknowledge personal limitations and seek support from safe individuals to process fears and uncertainties. The importance of self-care, margin, and gentleness during periods of deep grief is highlighted to prevent overwhelming stress and enable gradual healing.
Empowering Steps for Grief Processing and Support
Listeners are encouraged to reach out to safe individuals for emotional support and share their inner struggles authentically. Being mindful of coping mechanisms that may hinder healing, individuals are advised to prioritize self-care, set boundaries, and seek compassionate connections. The episode concludes with a message of empathy, reminding individuals experiencing grief that they are not alone and that their pain is a valid part of the human experience.
Encouragement for Those Going Through Grief
In a heartfelt message, the speaker offers reassurance and understanding to those grappling with loss and grief. Acknowledging the challenging journey of grief, they emphasize the normality of the experience and the significance of allowing oneself to feel and process emotions naturally. By sharing personal insights and faith perspectives, the speaker provides comfort and hope, affirming that individuals are not defined by their grief and that healing and support are essential parts of the grieving process.
In this episode, Leading While Grieving with Hannah Wachter, Benjamin and Hannah start off exploring her transformation from a grieving daughter to an executive grief coach. She bravely shared how the loss of her mother influenced her leadership and prompted her to challenge the misconceptions of grief in Western society. Hannah stressed the importance of acknowledging and accepting grief, and she offered some invaluable advice on how leaders can honor their loved ones while also processing their grief. The conversation took a deeper turn as they began to discuss fear as a manifestation of grief, and how this often misunderstood emotion can greatly impact the grieving process. This is an essential conversation for everyone who has lost someone. Hannah has a graduate degree in Christian Leadership and has worked as a mindset coach before focusing on coaching clients through grief recovery.
Episode Quote:
"Find a space where you can open up and express your grief , which is your own. You are not going to grieve like anyone else because your story is unique and your loss unique to you. Don't compare your grief to anyone else's grief. You don't get over the loss of someone you loved, but you can work through the pain and come out on the other side. Jesus grieved, it's human."
This episode, like all Rise and Lead Podcast episodes, is highly practical and motivating. Don't forget to subscribe to the Rise and Lead Podcast to ensure you get notified when new episodes release every month. When you share about the podcast, make sure and tag @benjaminlundquist, and he'll always try and give you a re-post. Remember, the best time to rise and lead is now!
Want to reach out to Hannah Wachter? Email: heyhey@hannahwachter.com
