Mastering Transitions – The Three Essential Capacities And Mindset Shift
Updated: Feb 22, 2024
Written by: Kirsteen Williamson-Guinn, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Transitioning can be a challenging experience, whether you're switching careers, changing roles, or embarking on a new path in life.
No matter the type of transition, it's essential to approach it with empathy and compassion towards ourselves.
This is where building these essential capacities comes in.
Throughout my own transitions, I've focused on building three key capacities that have helped me navigate uncertain waters:
Firstly, we need to build our capacity for uncertainty. Many of us find too much uncertainty uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe.
However, when we embrace uncertainty, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and personal growth.
It's essential to accept and respond to uncertainty in a way that's connected to our strengths and resources.
Most of us don’t like uncertainty, we can feel in the dark, but the thing is uncertainty is unavoidable, especially when you are in transition.
One way to build your capacity for uncertainty is to allow yourself to get curious and work through the possible scenarios and how you might approach them.
Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed, come at this from a perspective of I can handle it and here’s how.
Secondly, we need to develop our ability to thrive outside of our comfort zone.
Staying within our comfort zone limits our growth, and transitioning involves new and unfamiliar things that can feel uncomfortable.
When we push ourselves beyond our comfort zone, we expand our discomfort threshold. Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable!
Don't forget to celebrate the progress along the way.
One way to thrive outside of your comfort zone is to take small steps.
Start with something that's a little bit outside your comfort zone. For example, trying a new restaurant or taking a different route to work.
Once you've conquered that, move on to something a bit bigger.
Finally, we need to learn from failure and setbacks, rather than fearing them. Fear of failure can hold us back from taking calculated risks, moving forward, and reaching our full potential.
Embracing our mistakes as part of our journey to success helps us stay motivated and learn. Let’s face it, none of us want to fail, it can feel awful, embarrassing and discouraging.
That’s why one of the most important ways to embrace and learn from failure and setbacks is to practice self-compassion.
Be kind to yourself when things don't go according to plan and remind yourself that everyone makes mistakes.
Treat yourself like you would treat a good friend who's going through a tough time. These three capacities have enabled me to navigate various career transitions.
Including leaving my successful full-time career to start my coaching business.
The mindset shift that's been most supportive for me is moving from an expectation of perfection to celebrating progress.
Perfection is an unattainable standard that sets us up for harsh self-judgment and makes things harder than they need to be.
Instead, focusing on progress helps build momentum and keep us motivated.
Remember, success is not a linear path, and there will be ups and downs and twists and turns along the way. We might even feel like we are going backwards to move forward and that is ok.
With the right mindset and these three essential capacities, we can navigate any transition with confidence and grace.
For more information on how I can support you with your transition, connect with me here.
or visit my website.
Kirsteen Williamson-Guinn, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Kirsteen is an experienced senior leader with 15 years at Director level in a large corporation. She has a proven track record in delivering commercial growth and cultural transformation across large teams. After experiencing stress and anxiety in her life and losing her confidence for the first time in her career, Kirsteen created her business Return to Work in November 2019 (now Elevate Women). This business was created to support people in the most stressful time in their career, when they return to work. As a transformational confidence and transition coach, Kirsteen enables her clients to build unshakeable confidence so they can step up in their career, or step out and build a business.
