Episode 22 - Emily Rogers - Shifts in Transitions

 

Transitions. They can feel like you’re walking on shifting ground, right? Whether it’s a move to a new city, a new job, or a big life change, transitions can leave us feeling uncertain and, honestly, a little off balance.

In the latest episode of The Shift, I had an amazing conversation with Emily Rogers, a Leadership and Transitions Coach based in New Zealand. Emily has lived all over the world—from small-town South Australia to bustling cities in India, China, and Taiwan. She’s navigated so many location transitions herself and now helps others find their footing during times of change.

What really struck me about our conversation was how Emily approaches transitions with curiosity and a metacognitive lens—essentially, she helps people “see” more of themselves and their situations during times of change. I don’t know about you, but when I’m going through a transition, my first instinct isn’t always to reflect or be curious. It’s more like, “How do I get through this as quickly as possible?” But Emily’s approach is a reminder that there’s so much value in sitting with the uncertainty and asking ourselves deeper questions.

One thing we talked about was how important it is to normalize the confusion and overwhelm that often comes with a major life shift. It’s easy to feel like you should have it all figured out, but transitions aren’t linear—and that’s okay! Emily and I explored how changing our focus to see different time spans of futures (instead of just focusing on the immediate) can help shift our perspective and open up new possibilities.

This is something I’ve been reflecting on a lot lately, especially with all the global changes we’ve been experiencing. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by uncertainty, but Emily’s approach challenged me to view these moments from a more positive perspective. Maybe instead of resisting the uncertainty, we can lean into it and see what new opportunities might emerge.

Emily also shared her insights on the power of asking the right questions during times of change. By using Action Learning, a process where you ask deep, reflective questions, she helps her clients move beyond judgment and consider other possibilities. I found this so interesting because it reminds me of how important it is to slow down and really reflect during a transition. Often, we’re so focused on what’s next that we don’t take the time to sit with our thoughts and explore what’s really going on.

We also talked about William Bridges’ book, Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes, which is one of Emily’s go-to resources. It’s all about understanding the stages of transition, and I love how Emily ties this into her work—helping people embrace the messiness of transitions while also moving forward.

I left this conversation feeling so encouraged, and I hope you do too. If you’re going through a transition right now—whether it’s in your personal life, your work, or even just feeling the shifts happening in society—I hope this episode gives you some new ways to think about it. What shifts are you experiencing, and what’s helping you navigate them?

I’d love to hear from you—drop a comment below or connect with me on LinkedIn to keep the conversation going. And don’t forget to check out Emily’s podcast and her website, where you can sign up for her newsletter and dive deeper into the world of transitions and leadership.

Until next time!

 
 

Listen below on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.