~ Opinion ~

Change underpins everything to do with career development.

With every new role, it can bring with it happiness - the kind that makes you want to jump and down (if you’re like me).

A new job can give you hope for the future, sometimes more money, and definitely a change in status.

But something we don’t always acknowledge is anxiety and loss, and that big question – who am I now my job has changed?

Very often we tie our identity, our personhood into our role.

When our role changes, we experience grief, sadness, disorientation and we wonder, who am I now?

It’s not the change that’s the cause of these feelings, it’s the transition.

According to William Bridges, change is situational – it’s the thing that’s happening to you, and transition is the psychological process involved in coming to terms with the situation - if you like, becoming the new you.

Change is external.

Transition is internal.

Unless the psychological transition occurs, change will not stick.

You’ll find yourself looking for another job in six months’ time.

In other words, there can be any number of changes, but unless you manage the transition well, nothing about you will be different.

Transition starts with an ending and letting go of the old you before you can step confidently into a new role.

You must think about what you will have to let go of when change occurs.

In all change, there are endings and losses.

After letting go, there is the neutral zone.

This is the wasteland between the old you and the new.

It’s the time when your old ways are gone and the new doesn’t feel comfortable yet.

The neutral zone can be tough – it’s like a wilderness with uncharted territory.

You haven’t formed those key relationships yet, you have lost confidence in your skills and it’s even hard to use the photocopier!

Expect that nothing makes sense and you feel separate from the world.

The neutral zone takes time, but it’s also the start of renewal and development.

You can only make the new beginning if you have first acknowledged the ending, and what you’ve lost, including celebrating your past achievements, spent some time floundering in the neutral zone, and then looking to the future with hope.

The transition process is a chance to reinvent yourself.

Throughout this process make sure you take care of yourself, and here’s a few things to think about:

• Figure out what is actually changing - decide what is really over for you, and recognise what’s still the same.
• Recognise the symptoms of the neutral zone – your feelings of confusion, emptiness and flatness are completely normal.
• Take time out and deliberately set short term goals and look for areas of stability in your life.
• Do a ‘you’ stock take – is this the role where you want to end up? Take a new look at yourself (your passion, your skills and abilities, your resources and your personality.
• Consider your possibilities in a new light - don’t assume that who you were yesterday is who you are tomorrow.
• Ask yourself ‘why’ and ‘why not’? Do some brainstorming and list all the possibilities and alternatives. They are there.
• Experiment a little every day (starting today) - force yourself to do things differently, especially if they are not working for you.
• Focus on your learning in and outside of work – it will hold you in good stead for the future.
• Finally, find some fun! Hang out with your buddies and laugh.
• Taking things not too seriously can help create the new you.

Jenny Bean is a professional member of the Career Development Association of NZ (CDANZ). If you are looking for career development support (personal or organisational), contact her at CareerBeanz.