2. Change = the “external” event
Transition = the “internal” process
3. “It isn’t the changes that do you in,
it’s the transitions. Change is not
the same as transition. Change is
external, transition is internal.”
-William Bridges
Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change
Transition:
the human side of change
4. Change is situational: the new
site, the new boss, the new team
roles, the new policy, the new
process…
What is changing for you?
5. Transition is the psychological
three-step process people go
through to internalize and come to
terms with a change.
6. Three Phases of Transition
ENDINGS
NEUTRAL
ZONE
NEW
BEGINNINGS
Not yet
begun
Finished
Time
7. People progress through transitions at
different speeds
ENDINGS
NEUTRAL
ZONE
NEW
BEGINNINGS
Not yet
begun
Finished
Time
9. Activity
Reflect on a major change in your life:
1. As you made this change in your life, what ended?
security, turf, status, influence, memberships, meaningful work, identity,
control, relationships, etc.
2. How did that make you feel?
angry, scared, lonely, excited, relieved, wondering
3. What helped (or might have helped) to make the transition easier?
(talk to someone, time, information, knowing others were going through the
same thing, ) What did you learn to avoid in the future?
4. What kind of outcome did you have? What helped create a good
outcome? What would you do differently to avoid a bad outcome?
10. Communicate, Communicate,
Communicate
frequently and less formally
the good news and the bad
acknowledge the emotional impact caused
by the change
http://www.med.umich.edu/i/integration/
Communicating During Times of
Change
11. Communicating During Times
of Change
Be open
willing to share an honest expression of your
own personal experience
with an "owner's" view, not a "victim's" view
of the circumstances
listen and legitimize others' feelings and
reactions
12. Communicating During Times
of Change
Give support
practice skills for listening and
understanding others' point of view
work together to create short term plans to
address issues
set up regular ongoing ways of working
together
13. Communicating During Times
of Change
Experiment
hear/accept new ideas from others.
encourage experimentation and accept
mistakes.
elicit ideas from others on how to help the
change process.