Page 4 - Phase 2 - Identifying entrepreneurial actions for school improvement

Challenges in Transition

Challenges in Transition

According to a theory by William Bridges, transition is different from change. Transition is
a three-phase process that people go through. People internalise and come to terms with the
details of a new situation that the change brings about. The three phases are ending, exploring
and the new beginning.

Time
The New
Beginning

The Neutral Zone
Level of transitions Ending,

Losing,
Letting Go

The three phases of transition

Ending is the beginning of a transition process. It means letting go of the old ways, and the

previous identity that people had. It is the phase a leader needs to help people to deal with
their losses.

Exploring is the ‘neutral zone’ that’s in-between when the old is fading, and while the new
is not yet fully operational. It is the stage when the critical psychological realignments and
repatterning take place.

The new beginning is the final stage when the transition is close to complete. It is the stage

when people develop their new identity, experience the new energy and make the change
begin to work.

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