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Transitions and Uncertainty

Which came first the chicken or the egg? This is the age old question. You cannot have an egg without a chicken or a chicken without an egg. This ongoing debate has people constantly arguing over the possibilities, both are right, and both are wrong.  If that feeling of neither here nor there and both in and out are real for you right now, you may be uncertain. You may also be in a transition in your life.

There are different kinds of transitional periods in your life. Some are personal and some are professional. Sometimes they are growth moments and sometimes they are life readjustment moments. Either way, everyone experiences them at some point. In the workplace, we transition from job to job, change companies, change industries, and just move into and out of the world of work. Since people are not stagnant, they move and transition in many ways. For example, jobs change and people change.

 Anyone who works with people in any capacity know that people do not change overnight. If this were true, so many people who have jobs such as Case Manager, Social Worker, Life Coach, and other support professionals would not be needed. This is why systems change can be a challenge. Ultimately that period between here and there can be an uncertain land. The “transitional period” can leave a person experiencing it just not sure what is right and wrong anymore.

Transitions challenge our thinking, our thought process, what we know and what we think we know. Anyone who has been though any transition in life knows that feeling. For job seekers it can manifest itself in Plan A and Plan B thinking, the either or type planning, and ultimately  not really committed to either. Some people in their job search essentially are to the point where they have a plan for almost every letter of the alphabet.

How this manifests in people using workforce services can vary. Some people may have depression, anxiety, or even emotional outbursts. Other people may be looking to try everything as they are just looking for a job, career, or something that will stick and work out. Other people may not be willing to commit to anything because they want to be open “just in case.” Yet they are unable to say what the just in case of exactly is.

How can we deal with people in transition? Our key skills here are not the years of expertise in data, processes, and tried and true tips and techniques. The real key is to be patient, kind, and compassionate to people. Transition and the uncertainty that goes with it can be different for each person. Some transitions take a few months. Some take a few year. The feeling of uncertainty that comes with transition and lingers can remain for years. Acknowledge and recognize where people are and the door will slowly open for you.

 ~Karen Cirincione

Email: kcirincione@gmail.com        

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/karenjcirincione

Twitter: @kcirincione 

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