Patrick T. Malone

Patrick T. Malone, a Senior Partner with The PAR Group www.thepargroup.com , has decades of experience in operations, customer service, and sales management. Before joining PAR as a senior consultant in 1989, Patrick worked in a variety of management roles including Vice President - National Sales Manager for American Greetings Corporation and The Scott Companies. As a key member of the PAR team, Patrick has trained and consulted throughout the world with a wide range of organizations including The American Cancer Society, Banfield-The Pet Hospital, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, DuPont, Ft. Dodge Animal Health, Hewlett-Packard, International Securities Exchange, Novell, Sensient Technologies, Siemens Medical, SOLAE, The United Way, and Verizon Wireless. His work with PAR clients has taken him to Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Spain, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Brazil, Australia, France and China. A frequent speaker at industry, management and bereavement conferences, he has presented and spoken before the Mississippi VMA and the Delaware VMA; the Frontline Forum at American School of International Management; Argosy University; the business schools at Kennesaw State University and Georgia State University; The American Society of Training and Development; and the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University, Iowa State University, Louisiana State University, University of Florida, University of Minnesota, Tufts University, Compassionate Friends national and regional conferences. Patrick is the co-author of the new business book Cracking the Code to Leadership http://thepargroup.com/crackingCode.html Educated at John Carroll University, Patrick is a member of the CEO Action Group of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Growth Council, Legislative Committee and the Professional Services Executive Roundtable. He has also served as the National Board President of The Compassionate Friends (TCF), Inc., an international support group for bereaved parents and is a former Trustee of the TCF Foundation. He also serves as President of LMMA Inc. www.looktwicesavealifebumperstickers.com, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to motorcycle safety and awareness and is the host of the weekly radio show "This Week in Blairsville" Patrick served on the National Board of Compassionate Friends (TCF) from 1999-2005. He served as treasurer from 2000-2003, and was President of the TCF board from 2003-2005. Patrick and his wife Kathy reside in Atlanta, Georgia and are the parents of Bryan, Lance (1970-1995), Scott (1971), Sean and Erin(1974) and the grandparents of Shannah, Devin, Riley, Katie and Megan. Patrick may be contacted at ptm4936@aol.com Patrick appeared on the radio show Healing the Grieving Heart to discuss Grief in the Workplace. To listen to his interview with Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley, click on the following link: www.voiceamericapd.com/health/010157/horsley062305.mp3

Articles:

Grief Goes to Work: Part One

By Patrick T. Malone — Jack Gordon, former president of the Hospice Foundation of America, once said: “In a very real sense in our society, the workplace has become a kind of extended family. Businesses have responded to the changing needs of American families by adding programs that reflect this connection between work and life. Flexible work schedules, onsite childcare, and support for employees caring for aged parents or other loved ones are just a few of the initiatives reflecting those changes. It follows then that grief and bereavement affect the workplace as well.” I am the father of four […]

The Importance of ‘Acknowledging’ Those Who are Grieving

By Patrick T. Malone — “No one is listening to me!” This is one of the most common complaints you will hear from bereaved individuals. It occurred to me that what they are really saying is simply, “Acknowledge me.” The following excerpt from our new book, Cracking the Code to Leadership, may help you listen and acknowledge more effectively. 100% Attention Giving someone your 100% attention means you listen carefully enough to determine the other person’s point of view. You both listen to what the person says and watch how he or she says it. You also suspend all other […]

Grief and the Global Economic Challenge

By Patrick Malone — Technically, grief is the intense emotional suffering caused by a loss. If you are among those who have suffered the death of a child, spouse, parent or grandparent, you know an intense level of grief that is almost indescribable. There are many among us today who are dealing with grief due to a different kind of loss — the loss of a job, income or savings — and for them it may be the most intense loss they have experienced. Over the last three decades, we have experienced unprecedented economic growth not only in the United […]

Reflections of a Bereaved Dad, Part 6: Rainbows Above You

So as it often does, once again, how we manage our grief becomes a matter of choice. I remember Rich Edler once said, “We cannot change what happened, but we do have a choice what we do about it. Grief is inevitable. Misery is optional.” So here are some of our choices. We can choose whether that videotape plays tragic memories, or a remembrance of all the good things in a life that was too short. We can choose to stay stuck in the gray fog of depression, or seek out others who can help guide us on this journey. We […]

Reflections of a Bereaved Dad, Part 5: Measures of Love

As many of you have been or are currently, I was consumed with the question WHY? I needed to make some sense out of these tragedies. Why was Scott, a normal full term baby, only to experience difficulties during labor and expire after only 16 hours of life? Why was Erin miscarried? Why did the truck turn in front of Lance? Why was Lance going too fast to stop? Why wasn’t he going a little faster so he could have avoided the accident? Why did this happen to us? Why were we being punished? I read everything I could get […]

Reflections of a Bereaved Dad, Part 4: Grieving Together

I believe that early on, I reached an intellectual understanding that my wife and I were dealing with grief differently. When I was up, she was down. When I was down, she was up. When she needed company, I needed to be alone and vice-versa. I sort of knew that but it didn’t really sink in until a number of months down this road. Most Friday nights we try to have dinner out. So on this particular Friday evening we’re in the middle of dinner and Kathy tells me that I don’t seem to talk about Lance as much as […]

Reflections of a Bereaved Dad, Part 3: Asking for Help

I went back to work a couple of weeks after Lance’s death. I was very fortunate to have a caring and compassionate work environment. My partners and associates covered for me while I was off. When I returned they asked me how Kathy was doing. They spoke Lance’s name. They asked how his brothers, Bryan and Sean, were holding up. They talked about the accident. They offered any assistance my family needed. I was back to work for a couple of months when one of my partners came into my office, closed the door and said, “We are very sad […]

Reflections of a Bereaved Dad, Part 2: You Are Not Alone

Three or four weeks after Lance’s funeral we received an information packet from The Compassionate Friends (TCF). When I came home Kathy told me about the information and how it was a support group for bereaved parents and how she wanted to go to a meeting. I’m listening but honestly I’m thinking that this is the last thing I need. I don’t do support groups. Heck I don’t ask for directions when I driving, what makes you think I’m going to a support group meeting. However, I know Kathy is in no shape to go alone so reluctantly I go. […]

Reflections of a Bereaved Dad, Part 1: Transform Misery into Treasured Remembrances

It’s hard for me to believe that March of this year was Lance’s 37 birthday and it will be 12 years this May since he died. It has been even longer for Scott and Erin. As I look back I realize that the passage of time provided some help but other influences in the form of people, events and organizations have had an even greater impact on my journey. So I would like to share some reflections that have helped me with the intent that you might find another piece of the map that may give you hope and help […]

When an Employee is Grieving the Death of a Child

The Situation $37,500,000,000 Businesses are accustomed to putting a price tag on lost productivity and increased insurance costs associated with conditions from diabetes to those from life problems including substance abuse and depression. For the first time there is data available on the impact of grief in the workplace and the annual cost of grief from the death of a loved one is more than $37.5 billion. The grief following the death of a child is intense, long-lasting and complex. It is perhaps the most devastating loss a parent may experience and poses unique challenges for you, the employer, who […]

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