Your next transition lurks just around the corner. It's waiting to tackle you and take you down.
Transitions take on different shapes and sizes:
Change can happen in a moment: a phone call, a decision handed down, a sentence spoken, a split-second event. But transition–the processing and navigating through change–WILL take time.
Here’s the thing: Transitions take a toll. The Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory lists stressful events that can contribute to illness or unhealth. Nine of the top ten most stressful events involve transition.
But what if YOU could be the tackler, not the tacklee?
In the last several decades, I’ve worked with hundreds of people navigating transitions. And I’ve landed on Three Ways to Tackle Transitions–three ways to begin to move towards proactivity as you navigate your what’s next.
You cannot begin to embrace what’s next until you acknowledge what’s gone. All change–even positive change–involves loss. And loss means grief. Transition loss is compounded when the transition is involuntary–when the doctor delivers the diagnosis, your partner announces it’s over, or your boss gives you two weeks notice. But even when YOU are the train conductor of the transition, you must still navigate the ending.
The Tackle: List the losses in this ending. Consider relational, financial, positional losses. Don’t forget the subtle losses of dreams, hopes, plans, and “I thought it would end differently.”
The Tackle: Accept the lack of control you have over what’s next. Do not be surprised that you may not have control over timelines, communications, succession plans. Take the “How to Get Out of Reactive Mode” Exercise to identify what you can proactively control.
Bonus Tackle: If possible, schedule maximum time between the ending and the new beginning–a minimum of three weeks. You will rarely find an opportunity for this downtime again.
Wisdom is the evaluated experiences we use to help us and others. What you are learning about yourself, your limits, your past, and your future during this transition are vital vials of wisdom. The key is: Will you take the time to mine for them?
The Tackle: Set aside time in your transition to intentionally mine for learnings that can benefit you and others. Consider these mining questions:
The Tackle: If you are nearing a midlife transition, consider the power of engaging in “The Dam of your Life” exercise.
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you discover WHY.” –attributed to Mark Twain.
Transition can be a powerful time to pause and reconnect with your raison d'etre--the purpose of your existence. This is your life’s WORK that does not change through your jobs, titles, and positions may float in and out of this work throughout your life. Transitions tune up your trajectory–they realign you with who and what matters most so you can live well and finish well.
The Tackle: Take the “Finding Your What’s Next” tool.
The greatest athletes, CEO’s, and leaders share a common belief: they look to coaches to guide them, goad them, and gear them up for the next level of their performance. Transitions require navigators, coaches who can help accelerate the impact of your transition. They can guide you to end well, to traverse the treacherous chaos of the in-between time, and confidently step into your what’s next. It's like double-teaming a tough-to-take-down opponent. Tackles work better with two.
That’s what I do. I help Point Leaders like you tackle the What’s Next of your Transition.
How can I help you today? Let’s talk about getting you–and keeping you–on track through this transition. Reach out to me HERE.
Photo by Ben Hershey on Unsplash
