Page 88 - Leadership Secrets of Hillary Clinton

IN TRANSITION—GAME CHANGER

of what was ahead, you went through a process of feeling
awkward, scared, and maybe even sad, but you eventually
felt less stressed and happier when you got closer to the
“new” normal. When my company consults with organiza-
tions that are going through major change efforts, we map
out the change itself and link it to the different phases that
individuals will go through. This is a science that is tied
directly to human behavior. If you understand these phases,
you will have greater success in coping with and making
the transition through each of the phases of the transfor-
mation process.
William Bridges, an organizational change expert, has
identified three phases that people go through when they
are dealing with a transition from an old way to a new way
of doing things. These are Endings, Exploration, and New
Beginnings.
During the Endings phase, people feel and must deal
with their sense of personal loss. They often experience
some level of anger, withdrawal, sadness, and frustration as
well as resistance. They may be more focused on the past
than on the future. There are some who will eventually tap
into their resilience and begin to see the benefits of the
change; however, this is usually an internal conversation
rather than a time when someone takes action.
Before Hillary could run for the U.S. Senate seat, she
had to experience an ending, which was the conclusion of
her role as first lady. This was a reflective time for Hillary,

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