Acknowledging Workplace Change- On a Personal Level
It’s okay. Those are the first two words I want to say to anyone currently experiencing change at work or who has previously gone through it. I don’t mean “it’s okay” as in everything will be fine (though I truly hope it will be). When I say “it’s okay,” I mean it’s okay to feel the way you do.
You may be nervous, worried, upset, angry, happy, excited, guilty, peaceful, or feeling something else entirely. Regardless of the emotion you’re experiencing, take a moment to acknowledge your feelings and give yourself grace.
Sometimes we underestimate work and the significant role it plays in our lives. We make comments like “It’s just work” or “I’m just here to get my check,” but the reality is that work affects nearly every area of our lives. By default, we often allow work to determine how we show up in everyday life—our confidence, the value we place on ourselves or allow others to place on us, how we make decisions, and even how we treat our friends and family members.
Maybe you recently transitioned into a new role with new responsibilities. Maybe you got a new manager. Maybe you were unexpectedly laid off, or some of your closest team members were affected by a reduction. Maybe you’ve been working from home since COVID, and now you’ve been asked to return to the office. Maybe the change was fully your choice and you’ve landed an amazing new opportunity. Maybe you even just retired. Whether you’re experiencing any of these changes or others, you are going through something worth reflecting on.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for navigating change, but it’s important to give your feelings the space they need to process it. Sometimes we don’t realize how deeply workplace changes can affect us. They can take emotional tolls we don’t anticipate—whether the change is positive or negative—not to mention the financial and mental tolls.
Just remember that your feelings are valid. And if we ever take the time to be vulnerable with others and talk about workplace change, we’ll find that we are not alone. The feelings may differ and the perspectives may vary widely, but we can’t deny that the emotions run deep.