Hi everyone,

I’m still thinking about Friday’s workshop with Federica Schiaffino on navigating transitions – and judging by the messages I’ve received since, you are too.

Here’s what struck me most: we talk constantly about change in our professional lives, but we rarely talk about the transition – that internal, psychological journey that happens when change disrupts everything we thought we knew about ourselves.

And right now? Whether it’s career shifts, organizational restructuring, or the personal changes many of us are navigating … we’re all in some kind of transition.

Change vs. Transition: Why It Matters

Federica made this beautifully clear: change is what happens to us. Transition is what happens within us.

Change can be fast – a resignation, a diagnosis, a relocation. But transition? That’s the slow, messy, energy-draining process of becoming someone new. And here’s the thing: even when the change is good (a promotion, a move to your dream city), the transition can be surprisingly hard.

The Three Phases We All Go Through

William Bridges’ transition model breaks it down into three phases, and I’m betting you’ll recognize yourself in at least one of them right now:

1. The Ending Phase: Letting Go

This is where we grieve what we’re losing – even if it’s just the old version of ourselves. The feelings here? Fear, frustration, anxiety, nostalgia. All completely normal.

What helps:

Actually naming what you’re losing (not just powering through)

Processing the emotions instead of suppressing them

Remembering that not everything is changing

Being wildly compassionate with yourself

If you’re leading a team through this phase: stop trying to sell the solution. Listen to what your people are actually experiencing. Acknowledge the losses publicly. Give them permission to feel what they’re feeling.

2. The Neutral Zone: The Messy Middle

This is the phase Federica described as feeling like “Linus when his blanket is in the dryer – there’s nothing to hold on to.”

It’s ambiguous. It’s foggy. One day you’re energized; the next, you’re completely drained. The old identity doesn’t fit anymore, but the new one isn’t fully formed yet.

This is where burnout shows up if we’re not careful. But it’s also where innovation and possibility live.

What helps:

Creating micro-goals so you can feel progress

Reducing complexity (don’t change everything at once)

Experimenting instead of expecting perfection

Pausing and resting (seriously – your brain is consuming 30% of your daily energy)

Connecting with people who’ve been through similar transitions

For leaders: This is where your team needs you most. Clear priorities, regular check-ins (even five minutes), celebrating small wins, removing non-essential tasks. And here’s a powerful stat Federica shared – as leaders, we account for 70% of our team’s engagement. That’s how much we matter in these moments.

3. New Beginnings: Fragile but Full of Possibility

This is where the new identity starts taking shape. There’s more clarity, confidence, and optimism. But new beginnings are more fragile than they look.

What helps:

Reminding yourself of the “why” and the purpose

Celebrating progress (not just rushing to “what’s next”)

Building rituals that support your new identity

Anchoring who you’re becoming through repetition

For teams: Be the role model of the new behaviors you expect. Help your team define their new collective identity – because a team’s identity is more than the sum of its individuals.

The Energy Piece

One insight I can’t stop thinking about: our brain is only 2.5% of our body weight, but it consumes at least 30% of our energy. That’s why transitions are so exhausting – mentally, physically, emotionally, even spiritually.

Federica’s recommendation? Regular energy audits. Just 30 seconds to check in with yourself:

How’s my mental energy?

How’s my physical energy?

What emotions am I carrying?

Do I feel aligned with why I’m doing this?

Your Action Step

Think about one transition you’re in right now – personally or with your team.

Which phase are you in?

Ending: What loss are you trying to skip over?

Neutral Zone: What are you resisting because it feels too uncomfortable?

New Beginning: What new identity are you embracing?

Then choose just one or two small actions you can take in the next three days. Put them in your calendar. Make them non-negotiable.

Because here’s what Federica reminded us: transition is a process, not an event. And the rituals we build – even tiny ones – become the scaffolding for who we’re becoming.

A Personal Note

As many of you know, I’ve navigated several major transitions in my 17 years in the Middle East. Some I chose. Some chose me. And every single one taught me that the discomfort of the in-between is where the growth happens.

If you’re in that messy middle right now – personally or professionally – I see you. And you’re not alone in it.

Let’s keep these conversations going.

With you in the journey,

Laura

ps: Photo by Stefanie Jockschat on Unsplash