“Nothing remains the same and at some point in time, everything changes”
― Peter F Gallagher
Change is the only constant thing in this world. When change happens, it is never easy. Leaders who get promoted to a higher position see it as a sound career track, but some see it as disastrous because they feel they are not equipped or prepared for that change.
My previous newsletter discussed ways to help leaders transition through change. I mentioned that transitioning and changing are both processes. People must go through stages of transition to where they should be, just like when one grieves.
In this newsletter, we will focus on the stages of change.
What are the stages of change for leaders?
“Leaders need to articulate where they need to go so they can map out what will get them prepared. They must ask themselves whether they have accepted the role and are ready to move on to the next. It is essential to be honest with oneself to understand the entire process.”
– Coach Anda
#1. The stage of feeling uncertain.
The first part is like you feel uncertain at a stage where it’s uncertain. It’s the first one where you’re moving to one place. But you’re stuck. You’re like used to the things that you were doing before. So you’re studying your environment. You don’t know your team. You don’t know how you will respond to the work around you. In this feeling of uncertainty, there’s a lot of observing.
#2. The stage of learning.
The second one is like you’re gaining new knowledge. You’re learning about the organization’s culture, what it takes to be successful in your role, the people you’re working with, your boss, and everything that’s happening around you.
#3. The stage of reflection and letting go.
It is the stage where you need to let go of things you were doing before that you cannot bring with you, like how you used to operate or manage. It’s also about letting go of behaviors that are not working.
This stage is crucial because people will battle whether they should stop doing what they have done before. There’s a part where your thoughts go back and forth, and you don’t want to let go of certain behaviors. Perhaps because you are used to it, but once realization strikes you, you will finally say that those behaviors will not work well with your current role.
#4. The stage of acceptance.
After reflecting on yourself, your behaviors, and your past, you start to accept reality.
You start telling yourself, “this is what the role requires of me. This is what I need to let go. This is my environment right now.”, You are not resisting anymore. You start accepting all the new things that are happening to you in your transition to a new leadership role.
The role, environment, challenges you will face, and where you are as a leader and a person are now clearly defined.
What mindset must a leader have to overcome all the challenges in these stages of change?
The journey through these stages is not going to be easy. Here are four ways a leader must have to help him go through the process smoothly.
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- The leader needs to have an open mind.
- The leader must be curious.
- The leader must be able to find opportunities and challenges.
- The leader must be able to adapt, adjust and be flexible.