Dos And Don’ts For Entrepreneurs Navigating Grief

More than three million Americans died in 2024, each leaving an average of five loved ones behind. The result? Fifteen million newly bereaved individuals, each struggling to fulfill their daily responsibilities alongside their grief and diminished capacity.

Entrepreneurs are not uniquely exempt from facing grief; however, they do face unique challenges when confronted with it: unlike employees who can usually access leave for a period of time, stepping away or “phoning it in” often isn’t an option for founders.

In most cases, the business requires us to show up, make decisions, and maintain momentum.

And navigating grief as an entrepreneur–or grief in general–is even more common than you might think. This is due to the phenomenon of what Psychologists recognize as disenfranchised grief–profound losses that society typically doesn’t acknowledge or validate in the same way it does bereavement. A few examples of disenfranchised grief include heartbreak, pet loss, miscarriage, and the loss of a business or home. And grief, in all of its forms, negatively affects motivation, concentration, and optimism…making it difficult to run a business and lead a team.

This past year, I experienced both traditional and disenfranchised grief simultaneously. My mother passed away suddenly from a stroke, creating a profound, recognized loss. Meanwhile, I also left Manhattan for Nashville to start a new chapter with my now husband. While most people congratulated me on this “exciting move,” few recognized the genuine grief I experienced leaving the place where my soul felt most alive. I didn’t feel ready to leave, though I’m not sure I ever would have.

Within days of my mother’s death, I was back on client calls. At the time, the regular 50-minute distractions from my grief were welcomed–and as as a solopreneur with a coaching business, asking for coverage wasn’t in the cards. However, I felt completely paralyzed when it came to doing anything else. Writing? Good luck. I could barely type a coherent sentence. Creating social content? Forget about it. I felt completely uninspired and as though nothing actually mattered.

My grief journey, which I’ve shared in depth on the latest episode of my podcast, reminded me of the importance of knowing how to navigate grief as an entrepreneur. Here are nine “Do’s” and “Don’ts” to help find your way through your universally human experience of loss or transition.

1. DON’T: Minimize or diminish what you’re going through

DO: Recognize all forms of grief as legitimate experiences.

Whether you’re mourning a death, the end of a relationship, or another difficult life transition–honor these experiences without comparison. I learned that acknowledging my grief about leaving NYC, alongside my mother’s death, was crucial for processing both losses.

When we validate our grief, we begin to move through it rather than around it.

Self-compassion becomes essential here–treating yourself with the same kindness you would offer a grieving friend. Research shows self-compassion actually increases resilience and motivation, while self-criticism depletes the emotional resources you’re already lacking. Consider what you would say to a fellow entrepreneur facing your exact situation, then direct those same words to yourself.

2. DON’T: Expect to maintain your pre-grief capacity

^{DO: Create a strategic “grief-adjusted” operating plan for your business, leaning into delegating and deferring.}

Grief can affect cognitive capacity, temporarily impairing concentration, memory, and decision-making abilities. This requires a three-pronged approach: First, accelerate delegating and outsourcing wherever possible. Second, proactively renegotiate timelines. Create a three-tier system for all commitments: non-negotiable deadlines, preferred timelines that could be extended, and projects that could be paused entirely.

The key is acknowledging that this isn’t about lowering standards, but about strategic reallocation of your limited resources during an extraordinary time.

3. DON’T: Feel guilty about finding moments of respite in your work

DO: Give yourself permission to put things “on ice,” and to use engaging work as a temporary reprieve.

Identify which business activities provide a flow state that offers relief from grief’s heaviness. For me, fully present coaching sessions created 50-minute windows where I could focus on someone else’s challenges rather than my own. These periods don’t mean you’re not grieving appropriately–they’re essential emotional rest stops on your grief journey.

4. DON’T: Hide your experience completely behind a professional facade

DO: Communicate boundaries clearly with a simple, professional acknowledgment of your situation.

How much detail you provide completely depends on your comfort level and the nature of the relationship. A straightforward “I’m experiencing a personal loss and may require increased flexibility” creates understanding without awkwardness. It also models a culture of transparency and empowers others to communicate during periods of limited capacity.

In my case, giving context to my cancelations by sharing with clients that I had experienced the sudden loss of my mother both humanized me and gave them an opportunity to support me (in a way that aligned ethically within our coaching relationship). When I returned to work, I explained to them that our sessions offered me respite from my grief, which helped mitigate any discomfort they might feel about the focus being on them while I was experiencing such a significant loss.

5. DON’T: Isolate yourself or avoid processing the grief forever

DO: Intentionally attend to your grief, both solo and in supportive relationships.

Entrepreneurs often struggle to be vulnerable and pride themselves on self-sufficiency, but grief requires connection. I sent voice memos to close friends, journaled, and went back to therapy. Consider working with a coach or therapist who understands the unique demands of running a business while grieving–their specialized perspective can provide tailored strategies that generic grief support might miss.

I also recommend viewing “triggers”–those moments where you’re suddenly overwhelmed with emotion–as opportunities to release some of the grief held in your body. These moments are meant to be honored, not avoided.

They are reflections of your love or investment, and attending to them is necessary for integration and healing.

That said, knowing when to allow yourself to fully feel into those moments–versus when to redirect your thoughts and clear your throat–is also essential.

6. DON’T: Try to make significant business (or life) decisions alone while grieving

DO: Assemble a temporary “decision board” for major decisions.

Grief impairs decision-making in ways we often can’t perceive. While professional opinions vary between waiting six months to one year before making a major decision, sometimes as business owners we don’t have that luxury. Consider assigning two trusted advisors (e.g. friends, a therapist or coach, mentor) to an informal “decision board.” These individuals would ideally understand you and your business, and would be offer consultation in the face of any financial, strategic, or customer-facing decision that could impact the business.

7. DON’T: Allow financial anxiety to compound your grief

DO: Create a “grief contingency plan” for your business finances.

For entrepreneurs, income instability during grief adds another layer of stress that employees with steady paychecks don’t face. Work with your accountant or financial advisor to identify minimum revenue needs and create a three-month emergency operating plan. This might include temporarily reducing discretionary business expenses, identifying quick revenue opportunities that require minimal emotional bandwidth, or establishing clear thresholds for when more significant measures would be necessary.

Even if you never fully implement this plan, having it ready reduces cognitive load and provides peace of mind when emotions are already taxing your mental resources. Many business owners report that this type of financial contingency planning creates a sense of control during a time when so much feels uncontrollable.

8. DON’T: Resist the ways grief might be changing your business vision

DO: Remain open to how this experience might transform your work in meaningful ways.

Many successful pivots and innovations emerge from periods of profound loss. My mother’s death and my relocation clarified the importance of understanding our patterns of emotional avoidance, leading me to rebrand my coaching practice and relaunch my podcast. Consider journaling about what your grief is teaching you about what truly matters in your business.

9. DON’T: Put grief on an arbitrary timeline or expect linear “stages”

DO: Create sustainable practices that acknowledge grief’s unpredictable nature.

Grief comes in waves that gradually diminish in intensity, but can surge unexpectedly even years later. Almost a year since losing my mom, I’ve learned to respect my grief process rather than trying to rush it. When the “waves” arise, I try to resist the urge to push them away. I say something compassionate to myself–something my mom would’ve said to me in a moment of sadness, which both comforts me and honors her memory. Consider exploring and shifting the way you react in unexpected moments of grief. If you knew you had no control over the “waves,” would you be more open to accepting and befriending them?

My mother was no stranger to grief during her lifetime. For most of her time with me, she was moving through some form of loss. And while perhaps she felt grief more strongly than the average person, her experience wasn’t wrong: should we be so lucky as to live a long life, we will experience many forms of loss repeatedly.

Our work is not to avoid experiences that might result in grief, but rather to accept loss as an inevitable part of being human and learn to live alongside it.

For entrepreneurs, grief becomes not just another dimension of our business journey–one without a roadmap or handbook–but an unexpected catalyst for deeper wisdom. The leaders who allow themselves to be transformed by grief often discover a more sustainable foundation for their work: one built on authenticity, perspective, and a profound understanding of what truly matters. In this way, our most painful chapters can ultimately lead us to more meaningful innovation and more compassionate leadership.

Megan Bruneau, M.A. is a therapist, executive coach, and the founder of Off The Field Coaching, where psychological insight unlocks sustainable excellence. She hosts The Failure Factor podcast featuring conversations with entrepreneurs about the setbacks that led to their success. Her newest episode explores her journey through grief.