Managing Grief for Pharmacy Leaders

Grief is everywhere and affects individuals and teams in many different ways. The negative effects may not only be felt by the individual, but they can disrupt a team or an entire organization. While grief is common, understanding how to interact with others who are grieving is not. As leaders within healthcare institutions, pharmacists encounter many individuals and teams that are experiencing grief. The sources of grief can arise from pharmacy team members, other healthcare providers, patients, or our own personal experiences. This literature review introduces grief, where it comes from, and how it is emotionally and physically expressed in individuals. It discusses grief’s disruptive nature and how to effectively communicate with those grieving to limit disturbances to individual, team, and organizational performance. Understanding what grief is, how it manifests in individuals and teams, and how to navigate a grieving workplace are vital skills for pharmacy leaders and will enable a more productive workplace.