Bridges' Transition Model

differentiates between change and transition. Change is situational; transition is psychological. Bridges proposed that transition begins with an ending. To manage transitions, people have to navigate three phases:

1) Ending – celebrating and letting go of old ways and identity

2) Neutral zone – experiencing the movement from the old toward the new reality

3) New beginnings – “discovering” new energy and a new sense of purpose

Change will succeed or fail depending on whether people do things differently and manage their personal transitions. A large change effort will trigger thousands of smaller changes, all of which require people to adjust their behavior.

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Source: Bridges, W. (1991). Managing transitions: Making the most of change. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

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