A career transition can be one of the most challenging and uncertain periods in a person’s professional life. Especially when the transition is not chosen, but rather the result of external circumstances like a company restructuring, it can feel overwhelming, even destabilising. But whether voluntary or forced, this phase also holds enormous potential. For many, it can be the beginning of something far more aligned with their true professional aspirations.

Much of how we experience and shape this transition depends on one key factor: our mindset. And at the heart of our mindset lies our ability for self-leadership.

According to Andrew Bryant and Ana Kazan, authors of Self-Leadership: How to Become a More Successful, Efficient, and Effective Leader from the Inside Out, self-leadership is the practice of intentionally influencing your thinking, feeling, and actions to achieve your objectives.

Put simply, self-leadership means taking active ownership of your life and career. It means not waiting for others to decide or define what is next for you. It is about leading yourself before expecting to lead others or expecting opportunities to appear externally. This is especially critical during times of career transition.

When you’re in-between jobs or careers, it’s easy to feel lost, reactive, or even passive. But self-leadership invites you to stay grounded, focused, and proactive. It puts you in the driver’s seat:

It gives you clarity in a time of confusion.

It allows you to set goals when nothing seems certain.

It builds resilience when motivation drops.

It keeps you connected to your values and inner compass.

One useful model for understanding and applying self-leadership is the SOAR framework:

S = Self-awareness

Everything starts with knowing yourself. What are your strengths, values, drivers, and blind spots? What kind of work energises you, and what drains you? During a transition, honest reflection can help clarify what you want – not just what you think you "should" do.

O = Ownership

Take responsibility for your current situation and your next steps. This doesn’t mean blaming yourself for things outside your control but rather choosing to act instead of waiting.

A = Action

Insight without action changes nothing. Once you know what matters to you and where you want to go, take concrete steps. These don’t have to be big. Small, consistent actions build momentum and confidence

R = Reflection

Pause regularly to reflect on what you’ve learned, how you feel, and whether your actions align with your goals. Reflection helps you course-correct, stay focused, and celebrate small wins.

And let's also take a look at deeper dimensions of self-leadership. Self-leadership doesn’t just happen in the mind. It draws on four interconnected dimensions of who we are:

Physical: How we care for our energy, health, and presence

Emotional: How we deal with uncertainty, fear, and self-doubt

Intellectual: How we stay curious, learn, and grow

Spiritual: How we connect with our purpose and values

A career transition challenges all these layers. But it also gives us the chance to strengthen them.

Self-leadership is not a fixed trait – it is a practice. It is the ability to lead yourself with clarity, courage, and consistency, especially when things feel unclear. It is less about controlling outcomes and more about taking full responsibility for your response, your direction, and your next move.

Whether your goal is simply to find your next role or to redefine your entire professional path, your success will depend largely on how well you lead yourself through the process.

And that leadership starts from within and takes courage!

 

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