Guest blogger - Charlotte Rydlund

Change is the only thing that is constant, and 2012 has been a year of significant change. In the Chinese calendar, 2012 was the year of the (water) Dragon which is linked to supernatural powers, and is associated with “progression, perseverance and auspiciousness. It may also bring about unpredictable events.”

On the global stage, we have seen big changes and unpredicted events ranging from the US and Russian presidential elections, the change of party leader in China, Facebook launching its IPO, an Italian cruise ship running aground, as well as hurricane Sandy that wreaked havoc like never before in the eastern United States. Large organizations, including Procter & Gamble and UBS announced and also implemented expansive global company restructuring, and Spain’s unemployment rate “peaked over 25% for the first time”. These are big events.

On a more personal level, I have seen friends move, get married, buy a house and expect their first child all within 12 months. I have seen friends leave the corporate world to follow their passion or start their own company.  These are big changes, that take courage and perseverance.

How does change affect us as individuals? Like many others, I have been in the middle of change this year too. I was part of a global company restructuring effort, where I chose to play my part by leaving the organization. During this time, I got to experience what it feels like as an individual in an organization that is going through uncertainty, and where people are not yet sure ‘where they fit in’. I saw this situation as an opportunity to change career path to pursue my passion of coaching, but everyone has their own personal view of uncertainty and change.

Whether we like it or not, change is a constant and we all react differently to it, be it conscious or unconscious. This is a great moment for coaching, and I am thankful to not only be coaching others to help them in times of change, but also to have had a coach myself during this time of transition. It allows for personal reflection – or as my grandmother would say, it allows time for your ‘soul to catch up’.