Stepping into something new can bring with it a range of responses that stir up feelings of being overwhelmed, create flurries of excitement and energy, or instill a sense of unease and uncertainty or even doubt. When a change in season enters, it is important I have found to remember that: 1) it is normal, inevitable even for circumstances and situations to change, and 2) they won’t last forever, so either rest assured the difficult season will pass or enjoy the positive transition while it is here. 

How we respond to moments of change and times of transition either allows us to move forward, progressing toward new things, or they hinder us from taking the steps necessary to halt stagnation or refrain from being sedentary. In our roles as leaders, we are regularly faced with circumstances that involve stepping into something new, perhaps unknown, be it a more advanced role, working with a new team, or a shift in responsibility, and our reactions to them can affect the mindset that we are bringing to our leadership and imparting to our teams. 

When transitioning into a new period or time within our leadership journeys, I find four key steps help me remain grounded and balanced in my approach to leading, mentoring, and coaching:

1. Pause, notice, and reflect upon the situation

2. Remember to breathe

3. Accept the change

4. Reap and enjoy the benefits

Taking stock of the situation at hand, taking the time to slowly and methodically notice and reflect upon it, and reminding myself to actually enjoy the benefits of the hard work that I have put into everything that has lead to the changes in front of me, have allowed me to grow and flourish within my own leadership and has a direct impact in how I work with executives and senior teams.  

Pause, Notice, and Reflect

Moving forward toward any kind of change comes with a crucial first step, to pause and notice the situation at hand and reflect upon it. For many of us, this step can, at times, be a difficult one, particularly when the change that is presenting itself is an unexpected one or comes with it a lack of certainty. Genuine assessment and reflection requires a depth and honesty that may bring out information or truths that we would rather not confront. As leaders, it is a necessity and responsibility to have open reflections about our situations, decisions, actions, and moves so that we are ensuring that they can be beneficial for our teams.

Although not always comfortable, stopping to pause, notice, and reflect can create entirely new approaches to our leadership that allow our teams to be creative, open, and to thrive in environments that incorporate more inclusive dialogue, diversity of thought, and lead to an overall feeling of psychological safety. 

Breathe

Slowing down and breathing - consciously slowing down, and breathing, focusing on breathing in and out through the nose - has proven to be incredibly helpful for me recently. It may seem a simple act, one that requires no thinking, and it can be taken for granted. It is only when we slow down and take the time to breathe with purpose, focusing on our breath going in and out, through our nose, into our lungs, and out of our bodies again, that we can begin to appreciate the benefits it brings because we have consciously made the time and effort to take notice. 

Taking a moment to concentrate on something as simple and vital as breathing allows us to slow everything down and properly focus on our next choices as they present themselves, how they may be taken, where they may lead us, where they may lead others. The wonderful thing about reclaiming these short moments of time to slow down, is that they can be done by anyone, at any time, and anywhere; the ability to refocus and reclaim a moment in our day through such a small, simple act can be truly transformative when it comes to our mindsets, behaviours, and choices. 

Accept Change

Of the four steps in this month’s blog, accepting change may be the most necessary but also the most difficult. Positive change is generally warmly invited in and happily embraced, it is easy to argue the benefits of anything positive that comes into our lives; we can see the benefits instantly in the happiness these changes bring, the uplift in mood, the boost of dopamine. On the other hand, negative changes, or situations that we perceive as negative, can be more difficult or uncomfortable to comprehend and accept, yet their acceptance is just as necessary in order to move forward, to progress, to step into a new season. Positive or negative, change is inevitable but necessary and it is a constant, unavoidable part of life and leadership. 

Reap and Enjoy the Benefits

One thing that I have noticed with my many years as a leadership partner to senior executives and their teams, is that many people do not take enough time to appreciate or enjoy the benefits that have come as a result of their hard work and dedication. I strongly believe that celebrating our successes, however small, and those of our teams that have come from a direct result of our leadership is important for morale and can act as a powerful incentive to continue to improve our leadership abilities and capabilities to encourage even more success in the future. 

It is not selfish, it does not illustrate a lack of work ethic or dedication to your work or teams; it is a much-needed, often necessary, dose of praise, appreciation, and positive reinforcement that can create workplaces in which people feel safe and motivated. 

Stepping Forward

Stepping across the threshold into a new season in our life and leadership can be an uncertain thing, but it can also be deeply rewarding. When we acknowledge and accept that changes are an important part of progress we can begin to see our approach to leadership alter for the better. Learning how to walk through changes step-by-step rather than attempting to leap to the end result, can help us recognise when, where, and why certain changes are needed and to appreciate the benefits that can come with them even when the change itself is unexpected.