START YOUR JOURNEY

How to Journey Through Change

build self-confidence change management leadership overcoming uncertainty Jan 11, 2025

You know that uneasy feeling in your gut when everything starts shifting around you? There had been many times in my career where I’ve been sitting at my desk, staring at yet another reorganization announcement, feeling my heart race and shaking my head thinking how much is too much change... Maybe you're there right now – that place where your coffee doesn't seem strong enough to keep up with the pace of change around you.

I get it. Really, I do.

I’ve been riding these waves of change for more than two decades, both as someone who's felt completely lost and as someone who's helped others find their way: clarity isn't something that happens to you – it's something you create, even when everything feels clear as mud.

Let me share what's worked for me, and what I've seen work for the hundreds of leaders I've coached through similar storms.

First, let's talk about that overwhelm.  The other day, I was talking to a friend and she told me, "I feel like I'm playing whack-a-mole with changes, and I'm losing badly." I laughed because not only does that visually bring me back to my childhood in the arcades but more recently, I've been there too at work. That place where your to-do list keeps getting longer and longer with no end in site. Here's what I told her, and what I want to tell you - that feeling of overwhelm? It's not a sign you're failing. It's a sign you're human. Seriously, sometimes, just acknowledging that "this feels really hard right now and that’s ok” can help you breathe a little easier - it's about giving yourself some grace when things get hard rather than being your own hardest critic. 

Turning the Ship (even when the waves are high in the storm). I’ve talked before about how I used to think leadership meant having all the answers. But some of my most powerful moments as a leader have come from when I admitted I was figuring it out too. Instead of trying to control everything (trust me, I tried that and it doesn't work), I learned to focus on what I call my "sphere of impact."

Picture drawing a circle around yourself. Inside that circle are the things you can influence right now. Maybe it's how you structure your team's day, or how you communicate changes, or simply how you show up in your next meeting. Start there. That's where your power lives. All those things outside of that circle? Don’t stress on them. 

Finding Your Clear Space. One of my daily rituals now (and trust me, it took years to build this habit) is what I call my lazy moment of morning brilliance. It's 10-15 minutes, just me and my thoughts, before the day's chaos begins. No phone, no email, just space to think. Sometimes I write, sometimes I just sit (or even lay in bed). But it's in these moments that I find my clarity again.

You don't need a perfect solution to move forward. You just need enough clarity to take the next step. What helps you think clearly? Maybe it's a walk, a quiet corner, or your own version of your morning brilliance. Find that space and protect it fiercely.

Leading Others Through the Fog. The most beautiful thing I've discovered about finding clarity is how it ripples out to others. When you can say, "I see a path forward, even if it's just the next few steps," people feel it. They sense your groundedness, even if you're not 100% certain about everything and trust me none of us ever are. I've often been referred to the calm in the storm and this is why - when you focus on the few things you can control or feel or see, it helps others find their way. 

I recently worked with a team going through massive technology changes. No one had all the answers, and one of the leaders was constantly peppered with questions but she was honest about what she knew and what she didn't in every meeting. She shared her thinking process openly. That transparency? It created more trust than any perfect plan could have with her team.

The Truth About Moving Forward. Progress isn't linear it's actually often full of zig zags. Sometimes it looks like taking three steps forward and two steps back. Sometimes it looks like pausing to regroup. And sometimes, more often than not, it looks like celebrating small wins while bigger questions remain unanswered.

The key isn't to wait until everything is clear. It's to keep moving forward with what you know now, while staying open to adjusting your course as new information comes in.

Remember, you don't have to see the entire map to take the first step on your journey. Sometimes, clarity comes through the act of moving forward, even when that movement feels small.

-Heather

Join other emerging leaders who subscribe to The Current Edge - my weekly newsletterĀ 

Get practical, real-world insights, tips and techniques for leading complex change and extra bonuses such as giveaways, free courses, and more!

Sign up so you don't miss the next one!

By entering your info, you'll become one of my "insiders" with FREE access to exclusive and first peek content delivered right to your inbox (unsubscribe anytime with a click). You also agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy