So many of the folks I coach are going through changes right now—one just gave her notice in order to start her own business, another is starting a brand new job after being at his last organization for eight years, and another is leading his team through a major change in structure.

Change is a major part of our work lives. We need to get better at navigating it. Let’s explore a simple model that helps us understand the structure of change and how we move through it.

There are all of these moments in life that are incredibly defining– that create a ‘before’ and an ‘after’. Starting a new job, ending a relationship, moving to a new city, etc. So many of them I wasn’t aware of in real time. Today might be the first time I’m fully aware of the fact that yesterday was ‘before’ and tomorrow is ‘after’.

In my grief I wondered: How am I going to show up for work tomorrow?

At Penney Leadership, we often ask clients what surprised them most about their answers in a Career Navigation assignment. The first thing that pleasantly surprised me about the Values Assignment was how effective it was at allowing me to quickly home in on 4 words that resonate as my core values–the beacons of light that guide my life journey with fulfillment, meaning, and purpose. The first three words that emerged felt like no-brainers. As a career coach, it’ll probably come as no shock to you that three of my core values are engagement, purpose, and connection. My fourth core value is grit, and here’s why I wasn’t expecting it.

Grief at work is something we don't talk about enough, and yet, at one time or another, it will inevitably impact all of us. Grief is big, it's unpredictable, and it's a part of the human experience. Here’s a roundup of advice for how to help yourself through a tough time.