Lots of folks, myself included, are facing big changes due to the pandemic. Today I share 20 questions to help you find clarity and boldly move through change with more ease.

Sometimes we need a nudge to get us from where we are to where we want to be. The nudge can be small, like hearing a movie character say something that inspires you to take some action in your own life. Or the nudge can be huge. Like a global pandemic.

These days lots of people have been derailed by the pandemic.

• Lost business
• Furloughed jobs
• Overall uncertainty about the future and wondering what’s next

Maybe that’s you or someone you know. My heart breaks a little bit with every story of loss.

Change is Unsettling

To say it’s unsettling is an understatement. When lockdown began, my work came to a screeching halt. That’s what happens during a global pandemic when you build a business based on in person interactions. 

In a world where so often our identity is tied to our work, the nudge feels disorienting. It left me wondering, “Who am I and what purpose does my work have if we can no longer meet in person? Is my work still relevant? Can I retire?” (The answer to that last question is no.)

The grief and loss that accompanies this type of change can feel heavy and burdensome. These moments can also become, if possible, a reflective and curious time. So when business stopped, I grieved and then got curious.

By now, you might be wondering what this has to do with communication or relationship building. And I’m so glad you asked. It has everything to do with it.

• You can’t communicate or ask for what you want if you don’t know what you’re asking for.
• People can’t support you or make referrals if they don’t understand your message or what you’re selling.
• Instead of retreating until everything is figured out, we can stay visible and let each answer reveal the next step.

Make Time to Find Clarity

Here’s what I learned about my work by asking these questions: That whether we meet in person or online, meaningful connection can still happen. It just takes a different approach. My core purpose remains the same. Who I am and what I believe hasn’t changed. How I deliver on that does. (More on these changes coming soon!)

If you, too, have found yourself at a turning point asking “What’s next?” Or “Where do I go from here?” Or my favorite, “How do I want to exist in this Covid world?” you might find this list of questions useful. And if not you, maybe you know someone in this questioning place.

The only person with answers is you. So, I invite you to grab a journal or talk into a voice recorder. Set a timer for 10 minutes and go. Be open and honest with yourself. No editing, stopping or erasing. No one needs to see or read what comes up. Except you.

Ready to Move Through Change?

To get back on track requires bold action:

• Let go of where you are (This takes courage, a strong desire and the right support)
• Pause and breathe to recharge, refocus and reconnect to who you are and the purpose behind your work (this is where the 20 questions become useful)
• Position yourself for success in the Covid world. (i.e., New message? Networking? Skill building?, etc.)

Download the PDF: Be Bold: 20 Questions to Move Through Change with Ease and keep it with your journal.

Commit to answer one question daily.

Consider these questions any time change occurs. Let them be a guide to discover what aspects of the past to keep and what needs to go so you can unlock possibility and boldly move through change with ease. 

Be Bold. Find Clarity. Keep Shining.