Transitions are part of life, but can often be daunting. They represent those pivotal moments in life like changing careers, stepping into the role of a new parent, retiring, venturing into a new industry, leaving a corporate job to embrace entrepreneurship, or starting your own business. These transitions, along with many others, are significant, may feel challenging, and become overwhelming and filled with uncertainty, especially when faced alone.
Whatever transitions you are navigating, here’s a simple framework to breaking down the complex decisions and helping you identify and work through challenges.
What – Define the transition
Why – Understand your motivation
How – Outline a plan with actionable steps
Step 1: Define the transition (the “What”)
The first step in any transition is to envision your destination and understand what you aim to achieve. When defining what the destination will be, it is important to use the forward-looking, moving towards “I want to …” thinking, rather than a moving away “I don’t want this …” thinking. You will also be assessing your current situation — where do you stand now, what resources are available, etc.
Examples:
I want to be promoted to C-suite. I am currently a VP level and
I want to start a business.
I want to take a sabbatical gap year.
Step 2: Understand your motivation for the transition (the “Why”)
What’s driving your desire for this transition? Understanding what that is— gives you the motivation and strength to persevere through any challenges that may arise. The “Why” will help you stay focused and remind you of your values and reasons for the change.
Example:
If you’re transitioning in your career, your “why” might be a desire for better work-life balance, a better pay package, or the desire for personal growth.
If you’re transitioning into a sabbatical gap year, your “why” might be wanting freedom, or happiness, or the desire to connect with people.
Step 3: Outline a plan with actionable steps (the “How”)
Now you put together a plan. This requires research, information gathering, planning a series of actionable steps. This is where the rubber meets the road—taking specific actions to to close the gap between your current state and transition to your desired outcome.
Example:
In a career transition, your steps might include researching new industries, identifying transferable skills, networking with potential mentors, and applying for jobs.
In a relationship transition, actionable steps might include setting healthy boundaries, seeking counselling, or taking time to reflect on your own needs and desires.
Supporting Transitions
However, navigating transitions isn’t always straight-forward. You could be planning without taking action action, stuck in endless research without decision-making, or taking actions that undermine your strategies. The fear of starting, compounded by insecurity and perceived inadequacy compared to others, often stifles progress.
This is where a coach might support you in making the transition.
As an ontological coach, I partner you through your transitions, NOT by helping you take action, but by having you make necessary shifts to your way of being. The “way of being” is defined as the way we show up in the world, a combination of how we think, feel and act, how we experience and interpret the world around us, others and ourselves.
As your coach, I might work with you to reframe the stories that you tell yourself that hold you back and create new, more empowering narratives that align to your goals. I might create the space for you to embrace a new emotional state that will propel you forward, and not limit you. Through somatic practices, I could assist you to embody new emotions that facilitate a new story that empowers you to take small, consistent step towards your goal.
Transitions are part of life. It is often challenging, but it is also an opportunity for growth. While it’s possible to navigate them alone, having a coach by your side makes the process clearer and more empowering. Together, we’ll work towards your goals, helping you build the confidence to lead a more meaningful life.
If you’re ready to gain clarity and confidence in your transition, let’s connect and schedule a free consultation today.