Change. It’s something we all face at some point in our lives, but when it comes to your career, it can feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you. Redundancy, a forced shift in career role, or a personal decision to step away from anything that no longer serves you are all transitions that can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
You might find yourself thinking that you no longer know who you are, or that you didn’t see this transition coming. That’s where the Kübler-Ross Change Curve offers a powerful strategy to understand your experience, and more importantly, helps you to see how you can move forward.
Understanding the KĂĽbler-Ross Curve in Career Transition
Originally developed to describe the stages of grief, the KĂĽbler-Ross Curve has since been used across many areas of life, especially in change management and personal development. I use this tool in my own personal development and when coaching my clients, and I’ve found it a great asset for grounding and also to sense check where I am in my progress. The curve describes a journey many of us take when we are faced with unexpected change:
- Shock/Denial – You might start saying, “This can’t be happening to me.”
- Anger – “Why me? This isn’t fair!”
- Depression/Sadness – “What’s the point? I’ve lost so much.”
- Understandning – “I have perspective and understanding of what’s happened”
- Acceptance – “Okay, this is happening. What now?”
After you reach the acceptance stage, you step into problem solving and growth, which allows you to think about what you can do with what you’ve learned and how to use it moving forward.
If You’re Not Where You Are – Yet!
Career transition leaves us in that awkward, messy middle where you’re no longer attached to your old identity, and also not yet sure of the new one. That can feel vulnerable, and also it feels personal no matter what anyone says! It’s okay to sit with this discomfort and work through it.
This is the perfect time to feel all the feels without judgement!
Being in denial or shock doesn’t mean you’re weak. Feeling sadness or anger doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re human. You will have heard me refer to your Unique Human Proposition® (UHP), which doesn’t only mean looking at your best bits. Being human means embracing everything that makes you who you are.
Showing vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom. It’s how you connect with others, how you begin to heal, and how you start making sense of the situation and transition. It’s how you build resilience.
The Power of Simplicity During Transition
When your world has been turned upside down through redundancy, a career shift, or a loss of identity, everything can feel chaotic, noisy, and overwhelming. In that noise, it’s easy to grab for quick solutions, leap into action out of fear, or fall into a sort of paralysis. We all behave in different ways.
That’s where simplicity keeps you grounded.
Simplicity isn’t about doing less for the sake of it, but more about stripping things back to what’s real, what matters, and what is truly within your control.
Start by reconnecting with the core of who you are outside of your job title, not your LinkedIn headline, but the person behind it all.
Ask yourself the following questions:
What matters to you now?
In times of transition, your priorities will often shift. You might have spent years climbing a ladder that no longer feels right. Use this moment to reassess. Is it freedom, creativity, purpose, balance, or security that matters most now? Let that become your new goal.
What values are guiding your next steps?
When everything else feels uncertain, your values remain constant. Integrity, authenticity, courage, compassion. What are your values, and how can you use them to shape your decisions? If a new opportunity doesn’t align with them, it’s difficult and it’s probably not meant for you.
What is one small thing you can do today to regain a sense of control?
It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. It might be updating your CV, reaching out to a coach or mentor, or taking ten minutes to journal. Small, consistent actions done with intention can restore a powerful sense of momentum and quiet the chaos.
Simplicity helps you see through the fog. Instead of scrambling for quick answers, you begin to ask better questions. It helps you stop trying to fix everything at once and instead focus on what’s truly important, which is reconnecting with your identity, restoring your confidence, and realigning your direction.
When the world is so full of noise, simplicity is the best way to reconnect with your self-leadership skills.
Navigating Each Step of the Curve
So let’s look at the KĂĽbler Ross curve and see how we can navigate each part.
Shock/Denial:
Acknowledge what’s happened, even if you don’t fully understand it yet. Talk to someone you trust. Write it down. Let it sink in so you can work on the next steps.
Anger/Sadness:
Feel the frustration. Cry if you need to! Rant about this situation if it makes you feel better, and do it safely and without shame. Emotional honesty is the first step to emotional freedom.
Understanding:
Take time to understand from both a factual and emotional level what has happened. Without the understanding you can never move to acceptance.
Acceptance:
This is the turning point. You might not be okay yet, but you’re beginning to see that you will be. You realise you can’t change the past, but you can shape what comes next. Now you can begin to take aligned action and reassess your strengths. You have the freedom to explore new paths and potentially reconnect with your purpose. This is where your bouncebackability comes in, and you bounce back stronger.
We all possess bouncebackability, although sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. I realise that much of what I did when I faced challenges was quite subconscious and instinctive. I went into survival mode for many of those years following much loss.
I always tell my clients, and myself when needed, to only look back to see how far you’ve come. This has helped me so much and still does, and I am very proud and delighted that I now have the opportunity to speak about this topic, and help others.
Are You Ready to Bounce Back?
I’m Jules White, founder of Live it Love it Sell it, and I know what it means to bounce back.
Through my Bouncebackability Keynote, I bring real talk, raw truth, and inspiring perspective to audiences navigating the pain and power of transition.
My TEDx talk also gives voice to vulnerability and strength in equal measure, offering a lifeline to anyone who feels lost in their transition.
- You are not alone.
- You are not broken.
- You are becoming a better version of yourself.
If you or your team are facing a career transition, change, or challenge, I’m here to offer a dose of honest encouragement, practical insight, and a reminder that your story is far from over.
If you want to ‘Discover your UHP®’ with me, book a 1-hour personal coaching session HERE.
“Jules ‘The Dragon Slayer’ White is a skilled and passionate sales professional with a unique approach that combines a human touch with a strategic mindset. I’ve witnessed and enjoyed her coaching style that inspired our team to achieve excellent results. Her drive for continuous improvement and high standards of customer service make her an asset to any organization.” Antoine Metivier – Consultant Director of Online Partnerships – Fintech
Want to find out more? Schedule a virtual cuppa with me, and we can have a chat about my coaching services.