Leadership Wisdom of the Week #4

”Liminality is […] when what was is gone and what will be is still unknown. It is a time of chaos, uncertainty and untold possibility.”

– Jitske Kramer (Tricky Times)

Change is about letting go of the old and stepping into something new. The most challenging part of change is often the in-between phase—when we realise we can’t continue as before, but we still don’t know what the new reality will look like. This transition, a psychologically tough time for most people, is what Jitske Kramer refers to as liminal time.

It’s the fear of this uncertainty that often holds us back from embracing change. Even when we know, rationally, that change is inevitable, we may not feel ready to take the steps it demands from us. And so, we remain stuck in an ongoing state of uncertainty.

For leaders, it’s important to recognise that the same change can be experienced in very different ways. For some, the liminal space is full of possibility; for others, it’s filled with fear. How challenging this space feels can depend on personality and life experience, but also the pain of leaving the old behind, and how compelling the new beginning seems.

This is why strong, empathetic change leadership matters. Leaders can do a lot to guide people through this uncertain space—to help them find confidence and meaning in the chaos, offer direction without pretending to have all the answers, and create positive expectations towards what’s still emerging.