Jennifer Selby Long

There is a natural personal process of change. This is a little bit separate from organizational change. Organizational change is about how the company needs to change. But there is every person in it going through their personal process of change as part of this. And this is where we often don't get people across the finish line as leaders.

There is a natural personal process of change. This is a little bit separate from organizational change. Organizational change is about how the company needs to change. But there is every person in it going through their personal process of change as part of this. And this is where we often don't get people across the finish line as leaders.

And that's where the changes get stalled and hung up because there are these perfectly natural but often very painful stages that we go through with change. And Bill Bridges was one of the early writers on this. I have actually gone back to Bill Bridges' model after trying many others since then because it is beautiful in its simplicity.

And that's where the changes get stalled and hung up because there are these perfectly natural but often very painful stages that we go through with change. And Bill Bridges was one of the early writers on this. I have actually gone back to Bill Bridges' model after trying many others since then because it is beautiful in its simplicity.

He says there are fundamentally three stages that we go through. The first one is losses and endings. The recognition of what we are losing, what is ending. The second one is the big, long transition stage. It is the big one. It is very substantial. And the third one is new beginnings, where that change starts to get integrated into our new sense of identity.

He says there are fundamentally three stages that we go through. The first one is losses and endings. The recognition of what we are losing, what is ending. The second one is the big, long transition stage. It is the big one. It is very substantial. And the third one is new beginnings, where that change starts to get integrated into our new sense of identity.

And where leaders often struggle with this, I find, is they are... either thinking of the change themselves or privy to the change much sooner than the people who are on their teams and so i had a leader who was getting quite impatient with her team because she had moved through losses and endings Through a transition, she was really starting to transition into new beginnings.

And where leaders often struggle with this, I find, is they are... either thinking of the change themselves or privy to the change much sooner than the people who are on their teams and so i had a leader who was getting quite impatient with her team because she had moved through losses and endings Through a transition, she was really starting to transition into new beginnings.

Some of them were still struggling with losses and endings around what would they lose that was familiar to them. Even though they agreed that what was coming was going to be better for them, was in fact going to address a lot of the problems that they complained about a lot. And so...

Some of them were still struggling with losses and endings around what would they lose that was familiar to them. Even though they agreed that what was coming was going to be better for them, was in fact going to address a lot of the problems that they complained about a lot. And so...

For a leader, it can be really challenging because you're off in a stage ahead or further ahead within the same stage over the people who you lead. And so being patient and just reminding yourself that you need to be patient with others and that impatience does no one any good is a pretty vital self-awareness and other awareness skill to have.

For a leader, it can be really challenging because you're off in a stage ahead or further ahead within the same stage over the people who you lead. And so being patient and just reminding yourself that you need to be patient with others and that impatience does no one any good is a pretty vital self-awareness and other awareness skill to have.

We do find that those stages hold whether you're the leader initiating the change, right? So it's your choice where you're in control or whether it's a change that's forced upon you, such as say an unexpected layoff and suddenly you no longer have that job. The stages that your brain goes through are what they are. And you go through a period of loss.

We do find that those stages hold whether you're the leader initiating the change, right? So it's your choice where you're in control or whether it's a change that's forced upon you, such as say an unexpected layoff and suddenly you no longer have that job. The stages that your brain goes through are what they are. And you go through a period of loss.

You go through a period of transition where, as Bridges says, it's as if you're on a ship and you look back and suddenly you can no longer see the shore. But you're looking out ahead and all you can see is water. So when my client was getting impatient and her team was getting a little uncomfortable with that impatience, it was because she could start to see the shore on the other side.

You go through a period of transition where, as Bridges says, it's as if you're on a ship and you look back and suddenly you can no longer see the shore. But you're looking out ahead and all you can see is water. So when my client was getting impatient and her team was getting a little uncomfortable with that impatience, it was because she could start to see the shore on the other side.

All they could see was water, right? They were just not quite caught up with her yet. Now, I do think that there are some do's and don'ts that can help move yourself and others through these stages. There are a number, but a few that anyone could put in place. The first, obviously, Vince, you want to secure your basic survival needs. Those are going to help to ground you.

All they could see was water, right? They were just not quite caught up with her yet. Now, I do think that there are some do's and don'ts that can help move yourself and others through these stages. There are a number, but a few that anyone could put in place. The first, obviously, Vince, you want to secure your basic survival needs. Those are going to help to ground you.

Go take a look at your bank accounts. Go cut your expenses if you're worried about that. Do what you need to do to have a sense that your basic survival needs are met. This is really going to help to ground you in the moment. Now, a second one that sounds totally woo-woo. is to build hope.

Go take a look at your bank accounts. Go cut your expenses if you're worried about that. Do what you need to do to have a sense that your basic survival needs are met. This is really going to help to ground you in the moment. Now, a second one that sounds totally woo-woo. is to build hope.