Transition Map
You changed jobs, moved to a new city, finished your studies. It may even have been exactly what you wanted. And yet, months later, something still feels unsettled, and you cannot say why.
Often the answer lies in a simple distinction: a change and a transition are not the same thing. The change is the event, and it can happen in a day. The transition is the inner process of adjusting to it, and it usually takes longer. The Transition Map helps you see where you are in that process, and what might help you move forward.
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Where it comes from
The distinction between change and transition, and the three phases described below, come from William Bridges. He set them out in his book Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes, first published in 1980.
The three phases
Ending
Every transition starts with something that ends: a role, a routine, a place, a way of seeing yourself. Even when you chose the change, you leave something behind. Recognising what has ended, and what you can take with you, is the first step.
Neutral zone
The old is gone and the new is not yet clear. This in-between time can feel confusing or unproductive, and it is tempting to rush through it. Bridges saw it instead as an important time for reorientation: often it is where new ideas and directions take shape.
New beginning
Gradually you start to feel at home in the new situation. New habits form, a new role becomes yours, and you have a clearer sense of where you are going.
The phases are not tidy steps. You can be in more than one at the same time, and move back and forth between them.
How to use the worksheet
Step 1. Name the change
Write down the change you are going through, roughly when it started, and whether you chose it.
Step 2. Find where you are
Mark on the map where you feel you are today, and tick the statements that sound like you. For example, “I know what is over, but not yet what comes next” is typical of the neutral zone.
Step 3. Answer the questions for your phase
- Ending: What exactly has ended? What am I leaving behind, and what can I take with me?
- Neutral zone: What am I noticing about myself in this in-between time? What small experiment could I try, without committing to anything yet? Who could I talk to about this?
- New beginning: What first signs of the new situation am I noticing? What is one step that would help me commit to it?
You can come back to the other phases later.
An example
Davide, 45, left a large company to join a small one. It was his choice, and he is glad he made it. Yet after three months he still feels unsettled.
Ending. What ended was not just a job but a role: he was the person who knew everyone and how everything worked. He leaves that behind, but takes with him his expertise and his contacts.
Neutral zone. In the new company nothing is written down, and he often does not know who to ask. He notices that he is impatient to feel competent again. His experiment: a coffee with each colleague in the next two weeks, to understand how things really work.
New beginning. A first sign: last week a colleague asked for his opinion on a client. His next step: offering to organise the onboarding of the next new hire, something he knows how to do well.
Seeing that he is in the neutral zone, and that this is a normal part of a chosen change, took away some of the pressure. His unease was not a sign that he had made the wrong choice.
Tips
- Be specific about what ended. “My old job” says little. “Being the person everyone came to” says a lot.
- Do not judge the neutral zone. Feeling less sure of yourself for a while is part of the process, not a failure.
- Keep experiments small. A conversation, a short course, a new routine for a week. You do not need to commit to anything yet.
- Repeat the map. Mark where you are again in a month or two, and see how it has moved.
A note on limits
This worksheet is designed for changes in work, study or everyday life. If you are going through a painful loss, such as a bereavement or the end of a relationship, a worksheet is not the right place to start: please consider speaking to a qualified professional.
When to use another tool
When you reach the new beginning and want to set a clear direction, G.R.O.W. can help you turn it into a goal and a first step. If the transition has left you unsure about what matters now, the Wheel of Life can give you an overview. And if the change involves recognising what you bring to a new role, try Identify Your Hidden Strengths.
If you would like to talk through a transition, that is what a coaching session is for.
