Quarter Three

Episode 9

"The Aftermath of Change... Choosing the Road Ahead"

Hartman Furniture had finally completed its transition to become part of Home Design Global.

For weeks, everyone had imagined what might happen. Now, everyone knew.

Now they simply had to live it and finalize the waiting period to put closure to this time in their lives.

Some walked out carrying boxes.

Some walked out carrying promotion letters.

Some packed for another city.

Some began preparing for retirement.

Others stayed exactly where they were... but realized nothing around them would ever feel quite the same again.

Regardless of the outcome, every person at Hartman Furniture was leaving something behind.

The Emotional Journey Steps of Change

Whether change is welcomed or dreaded, people usually travel through similar emotional stages. No one is exempt from change or its effects, emotionally, mentally, physically, and with some ego impact.

No two people move at the same speed.

Some spend days in one stage.

Others remain there for months.

Some even revisit earlier stages and dwell on different possible outcomes (the what-if syndrome) before finally moving forward and accepting the change itself.

 

1. Shock & Denial

"This can't really be happening."

People struggle to accept reality. They keep hoping for some miraculous shift that will exempt them from the change.

They hope the announcement will somehow be different, that a sudden re-evaluation of the issue could generate a change that would be less impactful to them.

They wait for someone to say a mistake has been made. You are safe from change.

How can people move forward, minimizing the shock and denial factors?

• Allow yourself time to absorb the news.
• Avoid making major emotional decisions immediately.
• Ask questions instead of making assumptions.
• Gather accurate information.
• Do not automatically think you are the center of the change, even if you are the most impacted.

2. Fear & Anger

"Why me?"

Emotions begin replacing disbelief.

People may feel:

• betrayed
• frustrated
• anxious
• resentful
• worried about finances
• worried about family
• paranoid (is this just happening to me?)

Some become angry at leadership.

Some blame coworkers.

Some blame themselves.

All are simply trying to make sense of uncertainty.

How to move forward

• Acknowledge your emotions.
• Talk with trusted family, friends, or get professional counsel.
• Exercise and maintain healthy routines.
• Avoid making decisions while angry.
• Avoid making yourself the main victim, martyr, or placing all blame on yourself.

3. Bargaining with Change

People replay every decision.

"Maybe if I..."

"If I had accepted that assignment..."

"If I had worked harder..."

"If I had transferred earlier..."

"If I had said something earlier..."

"If I had NOT said something earlier..."

"If I had made a different decision on the project..."

“Did I cause this? Could I have made a different choice to prevent this?

They search for ways to rewrite the past or understand what caused the issue, so they can change the outcome.

Unfortunately...

The past cannot be renegotiated.

Change can occur due to many factors that affect the final outcome.

Even if nothing changed or your goals were met from your perspective in the role you played within the organization, change can still affect you when issues not directly related to you impact the company.

There may be issues affecting change that you will never be able to identify. That should not stop change from taking place. Finding a cause or assigning blame for why change is taking place will not change the final outcome.

How to move forward

• Focus on what you still control.
• Go through the process of change denial but try to move through it as quickly as possible.
• Don’t dwell long on the what-ifs; take charge of moving forward.
• Set new goals and plan next steps.
• Update your resume.
• Learn new skills.
• Begin preparing for opportunities ahead.
• Don’t give in to desperation; remember, you are the magnet of energy, stay positive to get a more positive outcome.

4. Sadness & Mourning

This is often the quietest stage.

People aren't only mourning a job.

They're mourning:

• routines
• coworkers
• friendships
• traditions
• identity
• familiarity
• dreams they expected to continue

Even positive changes can create sadness or melancholy.

A promotion often means leaving trusted coworkers.

Retirement means leaving decades of memories.

Relocation means leaving communities behind.

Every ending deserves to be acknowledged.

But let gratitude for new adventures begin to take hold by looking for positive outcomes and calling out new positive changes. “Remember, if you call them, they will come…”

This process is very similar to preparing for a trip. 

You could be excited to go.

Be scared to travel.

Worry about everything at home while you travel.

Have uncertainty and anxiety about the unknown new experiences.

But you have to prepare for the trip, keep your mind busy until you get on the road, pack, prepare, and take control of your schedule. Enjoy the process before the trip starts.

If you give in to the uncertainty of your emotions due to the change, you will miss something important about the transition. The change process is key to our growth.

NOTE TO READER: “Change may alter the road before us, but attitude determines how far we travel, how well we adapt, and what outcome we create along the way.”

How to move forward

• Give yourself permission to grieve.
• Stay connected with supportive people.
• Celebrate what the experience gave you.
• Remember that endings can also honor beginnings.
• Focus on attitude, keep it positive, it will help to move faster in the new direction.

5. Acceptance

Eventually, reality becomes less painful.

Energy slowly returns.

People begin asking different questions.

Instead of...

"Why did this happen?"

They begin asking...

"What comes next?"

This is where growth begins.

How to move forward

• Set short-term goals.
• Create daily routines.
• Focus on learning.
• Keep moving, even with small steps.
• Don’t allow yourself to feel defeated; this is just a change, not a failure.

6. Hope & New Beginnings

The future slowly replaces the past. But don’t forget the good moments; let those give you hope for more good moments to come.

New coworkers become friends.

New routines become comfortable.

New careers begin.

Retirement discovers a new purpose and new adventures.

Unexpected opportunities appear. Don’t miss them, stay positive, and be ready to see opportunities when they come your way.

The chapter no one wanted eventually becomes the chapter that shaped them.

Many people later look back and realize...

The hardest season of their career became the one that changed them into who they are today. How do you want to see yourself when you look back at how you went through the experience?

Lessons from Our Five Characters

Daniel Williams

Leadership sometimes means accepting that you cannot save every position, but you can still lead people with integrity and compassion. As an individual, you still have to make decisions for yourself and be in charge of adjusting your attitude to the new environment.

Elaine Porter

Sometimes success isn't climbing higher.

Sometimes, success is finding stability, balance, and peace.

Do we always have to be the best and be at the top? Who sets those demands?

Adjust your goals to what will bring you more peace and hope going forward.

Miguel Alvarez

Kindness during difficult conversations is remembered long after the conversations are forgotten.

Continue to get support from the people around you that matter; they will also be part of the kindness coming back to you to help you cope.

Tyler Reed

Change often rewards those willing to embrace new opportunities instead of waiting for certainty.

Be realistic about setting new work responsibilities. Don’t set yourself up to fail or give up on your personal life. Keep your balance.

Loretta James

Retirement is not the end of a purpose or the loss of your identity. You are a lot more than your career; your career is what delivers the outcomes that support your lifestyle, not the other way around.

Don’t let sentimentality about how many people knew you or passed through your life make you feel lonely; your family and friends are the constant ones. Find ways to build some fun memories with them. Remember: you can be lonely in a room full of people. But you can also feel fulfilled with your own company.

It is simply permission to write a different story with a positive attitude and with HOPE.

Final Thoughts

Every workplace eventually experiences change.

Companies merge.

Technology evolves.

Leaders retire.

Teams grow.

Organizations reinvent themselves.

The only constant is that change will come.

What ultimately defines us is not the change itself...

...but the attitude we choose once the dust settles.

Sometimes the greatest promotion isn't a new title.

Sometimes it's discovering strengths we never knew we possessed until life required them.

Pondering Time

1. Looking back at your own career, what change once frightened you that eventually became a strength?
2. Which stage of change do you find most difficult, and why?
3. How can leaders help people move through change with dignity, honesty, and hope?
4. If you could give one piece of advice to someone facing an unexpected career change today, what would it be?

Closing

Thank you for joining us throughout Quarter Three and walking alongside the people of Hartman Furniture.

Their story may be fictional, but the emotions, challenges, and choices are very real.

Every workplace experiences seasons of uncertainty.

Every career includes unexpected turns.

And every ending holds the possibility of a meaningful new beginning.

As one chapter closes, another is already waiting to be written.