Managing Life ’ s Transitions September 10, 2012

1. Managing Life’s TransitionsSeptember 10, 2012

2. Guest Speakers Lynda Davis Katie Buckley Senior Vice President, Defense & Intelligence Vice President, Global Talent Development Current Responsibilities: Leveraging full organization capabilities in the areas of performance, care, support and transition readiness for military veterans and their families Professional Expertise: Clinical Psychology, quality of life and medical support for military, veterans and familes. Education: BA, Developmental Psychology, MA, Clinical Psychology; MPA & PhD, Public Administration, Human Services Administration Current Responsibilities: Lead ICF’s Talent Development function and specifically design and implement the company’s talent development strategies, processes and practices Professional Expertise: Organizational development, change management, executive coaching, employee engagement and talent management practices Education: BA in Sociology, SUNY- Geneseo MA, Humanistic Education, Marywood University Gestalt Therapy Certification

3. Today’s Objectives OBJECTIVES • Recognize the three stages of transitions • Identify actions to build resilience and overcome barriers • Recharge your commitment to achieve your personal and professional goals

4. Change is external, transition is internal Change is not the same as transition • Change occurs when something new starts or when something old stops. • Change is situational: the new civilian life, the new career goals, the job search Transition is the psychological and emotional process people go through to come to terms with the new situation, commit to new goals and to find meaning

5. The 3 Stages of Transition Beginnings Endings Productivity and Progress Transition Wilderness Time and Energy Adapted from the work of William Bridges – Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change

6. Characteristics of Endings You may … • feel uncertain • be disbelieving • not comprehending what the change means • experience the fear of the unknown • feel angry, sad or shocked • not wanting to accept your new situation • have conflicting feelings of excitement and worry • have difficulty accepting the past is over and letting go

7. Endings – Choose One Action Acknowledge and Sort out Losses • Allow yourself to mourn a loss. Facing a loss is critical to coming to terms with change Get Closure • Do a ritual that can help you mark a clean break from the past. Physical actions can trigger the emotional and psychological separations that we need to make during endings (e.g., goodbye letter, pity party) Seek Support • Reach out to people who have supported you in the past or might be helpful now. It is also important to recognize who might keep you stuck in the past  Call Forth Strengths • Identify what has served you well in the past – friends, attitudes, skills, behaviors – that can continue to work for you as you adapt to your life after the change. 

8. Characteristics of Transition Wilderness You may… • get knocked off balance • feel your anxiety rise and motivation fall • have a sense of confusion and frustration • experience old doubts and fears • lose confidence • feel discouraged, withdraw and leave tasks undone • get overwhelmed easily and flair up unexpectedly • feel inadequate to face the challenges ahead • experience the sense of being lost and on some days, feel a sense of despair

9. Transition Wilderness- Choose One Action Regain Control • Creating structures in your daily routine, work, and relationships can help reestablish a sense of order. Setting short-term to do list for the next day, next week and the next month create forward momentum  Manage the Chaos, and Maximize the Creativity • Recognize the process for what it is – a scary and at times exhilarating roller coaster ride. Feel the fear and do things anyways – seek out information, make the call, send the email, ask for help Bounce Back Fast from Setbacks • Manage your self talk and stay engaged. Don’t get stuck on what is not happening. Stay open to possibilities and see the glass as “half full “ Practice Optimism • Recognize positive emotions produce position results. Choose hope over doubt, trust over worry, possibilities over limitations. Do one courageous act a day

10. Characteristics of New Beginnings You may … • have a change of mindset • feel clearer about your goal • discover new energy and interest • become more creative and willing to experiment • find yourself more committed than ever to your goal(s) • experience ambivalence — feeling excited but scared • see yourself in a new light • experience a shift in your identity • see a surge in your confidence • surprise yourself

11. New Beginnings - Choose One Action Clarify Your Goal(s) and Paint a Picture of Success • Reexamine your priorities and keep clarifying your goal(s). Defining success by identifying what you want to accomplish will help focus you during the confusing time of the transition   Explore Possibilities • Try something different – new relationships, new methods, new experiences. It is when we engage in this exploration that we unleash the transformative power of change   Plan andRemain Agile • Identify smaller manageable tasks which lead towards fulfillment of the goal and your vision of success. Detach from the outcome. Leave room for the unexpected. Expect and delight in surprises Celebrate Your Progress As You Go • Find concrete ways to acknowledge your progress and to mark the transition that you are making. Articulate who you are, what you’ve accomplished, and where you want to go will help keep you on track

12. The 3 Stages of Transition • Beginnings • Embrace new goals • New identity takes hold • Sense of achievement and growth • Endings • Challenged to let go • Confronting feelings of fear, loss, anxiety and confusion Productivity and Progress Transition Wilderness • Dealing with big questions and self-doubts • Coming to terms with new realities • Sense of floundering, frustration builds • Optimism wavers Time and Energy Adapted from the work of William Bridges – Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change

13. Managing Life Transitions - Key Take Away Stay the Course!