44: Sarah is always right

Your company has announced that your division will be shut down or divested, you went to the office to learn that there will be a major reorganisation, and your job will change or cease to exist, someone you value announces their departure from the business. Working in large companies some, or all, and more, of these events will likely happen during your career and, depending on the company and your tenure there, even multiple times.

The risk of job loss or leaving a beloved team can be a significant challenge, if you like your work!

The first time that one of these events happened in my career I was too young to appreciate the impact; the second time, I was lucky enough to have learnt, during my MBA, a framework that explained how we go through this type of shocks, setbacks or grief[1].

At the time I learned about a model often referred to as SARAH, which captures the stages we typically go through in these situations:

• Shock: "What?!"
• Anger: "It’s not fair/right!"
• Resistance: "I totally disagree!"
• Acceptance: "Maybe it’s not so bad..."
• Hope: "It’s a big world! I’ll make the most of this."

Our journey through these stages will vary because we all have different upbringing, culture, circumstances, outlook, age, and other factors. The SARAH process resembles similar stages we experience in our personal lives but, in a professional setting, it always ends on a hopeful note—reminding us that while career changes are significant, they aren’t life-defining.

The alternatives in a professional context are almost endless, losing a loved one is not.

This is why SARAH is such an helpful framework to deal with unexpected change: by mapping yourself along the framework you can see where you are at the moment, and foresee what is coming next. And the best part is that, if you choose, you can accelerate to the end because, don’t forget, the end is ‘Hope’: and SARAH is always right.

[1] The stages of grief articulated by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross are along similar lines, and while there might be variations, the common stages typically include

1. Denial: The initial reaction may involve disbelief or numbness, as we struggle to accept the reality of the loss.

2. Anger: As the denial fades, feelings of frustration and helplessness can manifest as anger, often directed at oneself, others, or even the situation.

3. Bargaining: In this stage, individuals may dwell on what could have been done differently or make deals with a higher power in hopes of reversing the loss.

4. Depression: This phase often involves deep sadness as the person begins to understand the extent of the loss, leading to withdrawal and reflection.

5. Acceptance: Ultimately, individuals reach a stage where they begin to accept the reality of the loss, finding ways to move forward and rebuild their lives.]