The Values No One Talks About at Work: Grit, Grief, and Getting Real

You won’t find these values on a plaque. Grit. Grief. Getting real. These aren’t aspirational phrases in leadership decks. They’re the lived realities of people trying to stay human in workplaces that often reward denial more than truth.

At Indigo Path Collective, we utilize a model called Values-Aligned Functioning (Values AF). It’s a values-based coaching and consulting framework built for people who are done pretending. We help leaders and teams move from performative to principled. Not because it sounds good. Because the alternative is a culture that disconnects, dehumanizes, and burns people out.

Let’s start with grief. Everyone carries it. You’ve lost time, lost parts of yourself, swallowed your voice in rooms that told you to smile instead. You’ve grieved the version of you that believed hard work would be enough. You’ve grieved how the system treated someone else. Grief at work is real, but most cultures don’t make space for it. Instead, they reward emotional suppression and call it professionalism.

Then there’s grit. Not the shiny kind people talk about in keynotes. I’m talking about the kind that comes from surviving gaslighting, being the only one like you in the room, getting passed over again and again, or carrying everyone else's weight because you’re the “strong one.” That’s grit. And it deserves respect.

Getting real is what happens when people stop lying to themselves and each other about what is and isn’t working. It’s what happens when someone finally says, “This process is performative,” or “We’ve built a culture of fear,” or “We say equity, but we don’t fund it.” Getting real isn’t dramatic. It’s clear.

Values AF means choosing to move in alignment with what matters. It means defining your values, holding yourself accountable to them, and acting even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.

If you're leading through change, managing burnout, or trying to rebuild trust, start with the values no one’s talking about. The ones that live under the surface. The ones people carry in silence. Then do something with them.

If you’re ready to stop performing and start leading differently, we’re ready to work with you. Schedule a free consultation and let’s talk about what your team, your leadership, or your organization could look like in alignment.