Managing Transitions: US Presidential Transfer

With the change this week to a new administration here in the US the country and the entire world is managing a deep transition. With the end of the Obama presidency comes deep and profound change. Obama had a very progressive agenda and worked hard to bring people together. Trump has a very different style and already post-election has been divisive and focused on a different way of operating. 

But through this entire process one thing is sure the US population is resilient, tough, working through the democratic process, and together trying to determine the next right situation. As William Bridges says in the book "Managing Transitions" change is the external difference, but transition is the psychological process that people go through in order to manage through the change. He says there are three phases through moving through a transition process. They are:

• The Letting Go phase - here people understand that the old is leaving but they are not quite happy about it. There is a fear of new things, of leaving the old comfort zone, of needing to adjust to something that is different. This phase is often met with resistance and emotional upheaval and results in feelings of fear, anxiety, and sadness. Many people (especially those who did not vote for Trump) felt this right after the election as they passed through feelings like shock, denial, and bargaining and did not want to leave the Obama era.
• The Neutral phase - in this phase people feel uncertain, anxious, and are not quite sure yet what the new will hold. They now know that the old is gone, but are not sure of what the new will bring. As a result they feel stressed, anxious, but also this phase can bring about creativity and innovation. Many people are coming into that phase now. The Republicans are figuring out how to bring about the change that they believe will move the country forward and Democrats are trying to determine a pathway through with not having a majority in the Senate, Congress, or in the Presidency. 
• The New Beginning - this phase represents a new way of operating with people all moving forward again. This phase offers a sense of renewed energy, focus, and dedication to going in a new direction. While the country is not yet there, after the Inauguration the hard work will begin to bring the country together, create a system that works effectively together, and truly create a unified country. 

Trump has a hard road ahead of him, but he and Congress will have to work together to unify and/or find the balance through the next four years. As a US citizen the time is now to build bridges and move into the a less divisive experience. What are your next steps to bringing that about?