When Everything Shifts: How to Lead Through Transitions and Change
A practical reflection on guiding yourself and others through seasons of disruption with clarity and conviction.
Change has always shaped the professional landscape, but today, it feels relentless. Across industries, restructurings, layoffs, mergers, and cultural shifts are rewriting the rules of work. Titles, teams, and even entire industries are in flux, forcing leaders to redefine stability and success in real-time.
For women, particularly women of color, these transitions carry added weight. According to McKinsey’s 2025 Women in the Workplace Report, women leaders are twice as likely as men to shoulder the emotional labor of guiding teams through uncertainty, while still managing their own. One in three Black women leaders reports burnout directly linked to organizational change and lack of systemic support.
In this climate, the ability to lead through change has become a matter of survival.
The New Leadership Imperative
When everything feels uncertain, people look for something steady to hold onto. The natural instinct is to pause and wait for direction or for the situation to settle. It’s in these moments that true leaders step up. They bring clarity and calm by being present, communicating openly, and helping others stay steady in motion. That steadiness, especially when information is incomplete, signals psychological safety, which is what people need most during uncertainty.
As both a leader and coach, I guide professionals facing layoffs, restructurings, and pivots, many of whom are balancing family, health, or caregiving responsibilities while still delivering results for their teams. Leadership in these moments requires a balance of strength and softness, helping those who need it the most to feel supported when the future is unclear.
That’s the often invisible work of leadership, especially now, and especially for women leaders who do it every day.
Three Core Practices for Leading Through Change
To help clients, teams, and organizations navigate uncertainty, I focus on three core communication practices: clarity, communication, and connection.
Clarity
Start with what’s true. When everything around you shifts, return to your values, priorities, and non-negotiables. Ask yourself: How can I lead differently in this moment? Clarity doesn’t erase the uncertainty, but it will anchor you while navigating it.Communication
Being open during change builds trust, even if you don’t have all the answers. Saying what you know and what you don’t can make you more trustworthy than pretending to have it all figured out. One practical way to communicate uncertainty is to say, While I don't have the full picture yet, here's what I do know, and here's what I'm doing to find out more.For women leaders especially, this honesty is often a superpower, proving that empathy and authority work well together.
Connection
When things are uncertain, people want to feel seen, heard, and included. Check in with your team and peers, not just about work, but about how they’re doing. Consider asking questions like, “How are you processing the recent changes?” or “What support can I provide you right now?”
This practice shows genuine care and reveals valuable insights that you might otherwise miss. Research continues to show that women leaders are the cultural glue of organizations, fostering team well-being and cohesion during turbulence. Connection is what turns challenges into strength.
Why This Matters Now
2025 is a defining moment for leadership. Across industries, change is accelerating expectations for how leaders show up. Stability and certainty are no longer the measures of leadership. The leaders who can communicate with honesty, steady their teams, and redefine the narrative in real time are the ones who stay future-ready.
To ground this in real stories, I’ll join colleagues at the Public Relations Society of America’s 2025 International Conference (PRSA ICON) for a panel discussion titled “Beyond the Pivot: How Government Communicators Reinvented Their Careers and Voice.” We’ll explore reinvention when change isn’t optional, and how leaders across sectors, especially women communicators, use storytelling to navigate transition with courage, creativity, and heart.
If you’re attending, I’d love for you to join the conversation on October 28, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Washington, D.C.
Putting It Into Practice
If you’re leading through transition, whether it’s your own or someone else’s, start small:
Take 15 minutes for a career audit. What’s changed?
What still feels aligned? Send a message of encouragement to a colleague navigating change.
Or pause long enough to name what this season is teaching you.
Small, intentional actions turn uncertainty into direction.
…
Reinvention is leadership in motion. For those leading through constant change, especially women leaders, it’s also a reclamation of your voice, value, and vision. Every shift refines your story, renews your purpose, and expands what’s possible.
Ready to Lead Your Own Next Chapter?
If you’re preparing for transition or ready to realign your leadership path:
Career Story Intensive™ – A 1:1 private session to refine your narrative and strengthen your professional positioning. → KanikaWatson.com/Story
Career Accelerator Intensive – A six-week group experience or private coaching track to build momentum, elevate your leadership presence, and align your next big move. → KanikaWatson.com/Career-Accelerator-Intensive
Your next chapter is already in motion. This is the moment to lead it with intention.