Handling Transitions

This activity enables participants, with the help of others, to consider transition, that is, the passage from one place, state or stage to another. Opportunity is given for participants to consider the phases of transition against a background of personal change(s). Finally, participants are asked to think about options open to them in dealing with future transitions.

Situations

This activity can be used

1. during a workshop that deals with aspects of stress;

2. when individuals/groups in an organization are experiencing difficulty with change;

3. as a component in any program aimed at increasing self-awareness.

Objectives

• To examine the phases of transition in the light of personal examples shared by participants.

• To emphasize the positive aspects of transition and the help other people can provide in difficult times.

Method

1. Introduce the following three forms of change and obtain examples of these from participants.

a.Planned—intended change such as deciding on a career, changing jobs, moving, getting married.

b.Unplanned—these may be unwanted by the individual, such as an accident, bereavement, loss of job or wanted such as unexpected promotion, a substantial bequest, a cash award, etc.

c.Growing awareness—the gradual realization that your life is changing; for example, adolescence, approaching middle age, gaining or losing weight.

2. Discuss and explain to participants the basic theory of transition, that is, that the individual will experience a predictable cycle of reactions and feelings with a number of phases.

You can expect some debate on the phases of transition, such as the actual sequence. This confirms the uniqueness of each person’s experience and the accompanying feelings. Participants may be unaware that in some cases something prevents them from getting beyond the “minimization” or “depression” stage.

3. Ask participants to select a recent or current personal transition and, working individually, to write down their feelings. Use the following questions to prompt them:

4. Ask participants to form pairs and exchange ideas and feelings. They should concentrate on active listening and other behaviors that encourage each other to be open.

5. Individually, ask participants to decide whether their transition is current or has already taken place. Use the following questions to help them decide:

6. Ask participants to return to their original pairs and share their responses to step 5 above.

7. In pairs, ask each participant to explore and write down the individual learning he/she has gained from the exercise so far, together with the behaviors and actions that will help him/her with any future transitions.

8. Hold a discussion with all participants together, concentrating on what has been learned rather than facts revealed in the discussion between pairs. It may be appropriate to explore the range of feelings experienced. The following conclusions may help to end the session on a positive note:

• The opportunity (presented by this activity) to express our feelings can help us over difficult times.

• Knowledge of the seven phases of transition may help us in dealing with future difficulties.

• Substantial problems/calamities can lead to personal growth.

• Other people are an important source of help in difficult times.

• We can also provide support to others.

• The situation may seem calamitous but most of the time we will cope.

Time

1. Three forms of change takes 15 minutes.

2. Discussion on transition takes 30 minutes.

3.-7. Individual/pairs work takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours.*

8. Concluding discussion takes 30 minutes.

Average total time: 3 hours.

*Steps 3–7 may trigger some deep feelings among participants and additional time may be needed to properly bring closure.

Materials required

1. Sufficient copies of Transition Exercise (below)

2. Flipchart, paper and pens.

3. Sufficient space and privacy for pairs to work undisturbed.

Transition Exercise

The seven phases of transition can be summarized as follows:

1. IMMOBILIZATION

A sense of being overwhelmed, unable to plan and understand. This may be particularly intense where the transition is apparently negative and totally unexpected, such as during bereavement of a loved one.

2.MINIMIZATION

A denial that the change exists. This has its positive side in that the situation may be too overwhelming to face head-on and time is thus provided to prepare for subsequent phases.

3. DEPRESSION

This feeling emerges from acknowledgment of the need for change apparently coupled to an initial feeling of powerlessness.

4. “LETTING GO”

This is an acceptance of reality but with the knowledge “I can survive.”

5.TESTING

In the new situation, different ways of coping are tried, sometimes accompanied by feelings of anger and irritability.

6. SEARCH FOR MEANING

After the energy of the “Testing” phase this is the search for understanding how and why things are different.

7.INTERNALIZATION

After an understanding of the transition takes place, changes are incorporated in behavior.