Facing Uncertainty: Endings, Transitions, and What Comes Next
When I went through redundancy, I didn’t get a choice. One day, the decision was made, and suddenly my role — and the sense of identity that went with it — was gone.
Even though I didn’t have to wrestle with “Should I stay or should I go?” I still had to face the same fears many people are living with now:
Who am I without this role?
What if I can’t find something else?
What does my future look like now?
It was frightening and deeply uncertain. But it was also the start of a journey that taught me a lot about endings, resilience, and new beginnings — lessons I now carry into my work with others.
And I know I’m not alone in this. Recently, I’ve been hearing from friends and colleagues too, just how difficult it feels out there — the waiting, the uncertainty, the constant questioning of what’s next.
This is where William Bridges’ Transition Model has always helped me, and those I coach, to make sense of what’s happening.
Bridges reminds us that change is external — the event itself — but transition is the internal process we go through in response. And it starts with Endings.
Endings are often the most overlooked part of transition.
We tend to rush ahead to new beginnings, but unless we acknowledge what is ending — whether that’s a role, a routine, or even part of our professional identity — we carry unfinished business with us. William Bridges’ research shows that honouring endings is what allows people to let go, regain energy, and step forward with clarity. In my experience, creating space for this stage is what makes the difference between feeling stuck in uncertainty and being able to move into change with purpose.
Letting people express their endings can feel uncomfortable — especially for leaders.
It often brings sadness, anger, or fear to the surface, and our instinct is to want to fix it, move on quickly, or shut it down. But skipping over this stage only pushes those emotions underground, where they can quietly stall progress. In my experience, when leaders create space for people to acknowledge endings — however messy it feels — it not only validates those experiences but also builds the trust and clarity needed to move forward.
If you are in this space take some time to reflect on these questions, perhaps get your team together and reflect together:
What am I/we having to let go of?
What feels hardest to lose?
How could I/we acknowledge or honour what's ending?
That stage is hard. It means recognising what’s been lost — a role, a team, a routine, a part of your identity. But naming and honouring those endings is the first step to being able to move forward with clarity.
In my coaching work, I see the power of giving people space for this. Once endings are acknowledged, new possibilities emerge:
What’s truly important to me now?
Do I want to fight to stay, or is it time to go?
How can I navigate uncertainty without losing confidence?
I know how daunting it feels to stand in that space of not knowing. And I also know it’s possible to find your way through, with support.
If this resonates, here are some things I am running. Mostly free some at a reduced rate for public sector/voluntary sector colleagues:
Join my upcoming sessions on navigating transitions. — why it matters, how to process them, and how to create space for clarity before rushing into “what’s next.” You’ll leave with practical tools to steady yourself during uncertainty.
Join my upcoming sessions on starting your own business. This session will explore how to begin while you’re still being paid — drawing on my own experience of reinventing myself after a 30-year career in the NHS. We’ll look at the practical steps, mindset shifts, and possibilities that can help you test the waters and build confidence before taking the leap. Expert speakers will join us too so that we can ask the practical questions about tax, insurance, marketing etc.
Explore one-to-one coaching. If you’d like more personalised support, we can have a chat about how coaching could help you work through this phase.
Be part of a new group coaching programme. I’m developing a small group experience for people navigating transitions together. It will be a supportive space to share, reflect, and learn alongside others who “get it.”
You can get more info HERE or drop me an email jo@letegetonwithit.co.uk
You don’t have to face endings or uncertainty on your own. With the right support, what feels like an ending can become the start of a more grounded and meaningful next chapter.
