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In this latest podcast episode, I’m joined by Julia Bend, Executive Career Transition Coach and founder of Premier Coaching, and we focus on the emotional reality of organisational change, why it so often can feel personal even when it isn’t, and what it truly takes to manage yourself well through transition.
Julia also shares her SPEAR Framework, a clear and human approach that guides you from self-awareness through to purposeful action and thoughtful review.
After 27 years in the transport and IT sector, Julia shifted into retraining and rebuilding her career. She now supports professionals to realign their work with their values and strengths, whether they are stepping into leadership or rethinking their next chapter.
This is a grounded, energising and practical discussion for anyone navigating uncertainty or sensing that change is calling.
What you will learn in this episode:
- Why organisational change can feel personal, even when it’s driven by business needs
- How to recognise the early signals that your role or environment is no longer a fit
- When and how to create clarity in bitesize chunks
- How Julia’s SPEAR Framework supports career transition
- How to manage change when it’s thrust upon you
- Why the right support network makes all the difference
Find out more:
Buy my new book, Become a Global Leader.
Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips.
Connect with Julia Bend on LinkedIn.
Follow Julia Bend on Instagram.
Tune in to her podcast, The Secrets of Learning and Development, which she co-hosts with Valerie Merrill.
Episode overview:
Career change, whether chosen or thrust upon us, can shake our identity, our confidence and our sense of direction. I recently spoke with Julia Bend, Executive Career Transition Coach and founder of Premier Coaching, whose own journey through redundancy and reinvention has shaped the powerful work she does today. After 27 years in the transport and IT sector, Julia made a bold shift into coaching and now guides others to create careers that feel more meaningful and aligned.
Our conversation touched on the emotional reality of change, how to find clarity when everything feels uncertain and why understanding yourself is the true starting point for any transition.
When change can feel personal, even when it isn’t
One of the first things Julia shared was how difficult it is not to take organisational change personally. Restructures, reorganisations and redundancies are rarely about an individual, yet they can feel like a judgement on your loyalty, your contribution or your identity.
As Julia explained, companies make decisions to remain solvent and competitive, and although the logic may be business-driven, the human impact is real. Acknowledging this emotional side is crucial. It allows you to move from feeling helpless to recognising that you are still in control of the most important element, yourself.
The pause you didn’t know you needed
Julia’s own transition began without a plan initially, and the unexpected pause that followed turned out to be essential for her.
That space allowed her to step back, breathe and finally ask the question so many of us avoid: What do I actually want to do next?
This, she says, is where many people struggle. We rush to replace what has been lost, or we bury our discomfort because we are too busy to explore it. Yet without creating a moment of space, we cannot hope to gain clarity. Thinking time is not a luxury, it is the very thing that enables us to move forward with intention rather than in reaction mode.
Understanding “you inc.”
At the heart of Julia’s approach is the belief that we must understand ourselves before we can make sound decisions about our careers. She encourages people to ask themselves:
- What are my skills?
- What do I genuinely enjoy?
- What are my values?
- What are my strengths, not the ones others assume, but the ones proven by how I behave?
She often sees people struggle at this early stage. When you have spent years inside an organisation, your identity becomes entwined with job titles, processes and expectations. Rediscovering who you are without a corporate title can feel unsettling, yet it is the foundation for meaningful choices.
The SPEAR framework: a practical path through transition
Julia shared her SPEAR Framework, a structure she uses with people during career uncertainty.
Self-Awareness: This first stage is the most challenging, because it requires honesty and reflection. It focuses on time, balance, positioning and recognising what truly makes you, you.
Purpose: Once you understand yourself, the next step is clarifying why you do what you do, or why what you do no longer feels right. Here, Julia encourages people to explore their values and character strengths, and to create a purpose statement that acts as an anchor.
Exploration: After clarity comes curiosity. This stage is about considering possibilities, researching options and identifying roles or directions aligned with your purpose.
Action: From planning into doing. Whether it is researching courses, speaking to people, developing skills or mapping finances, this stage turns intention into momentum.
Review: Review is baked into every stage of the framework, but Julia also ends the process with a dedicated review point, ensuring each decision feels aligned and considered rather than reactive.
Support is not optional
One of the most powerful points Julia made is the importance of support. Saying your thoughts out loud can bring clarity far faster than thinking alone. Whether you speak to a coach, a trusted colleague or a supportive friend, you do not need to navigate change in isolation.
Change can feel overwhelming, but it becomes manageable when you are heard, understood and guided with calm objectivity.
When change is forced upon you
For those facing change they did not choose, Julia offers this encouragement: you are not alone. Others have been through similar experiences and can help you find your footing. The key is to acknowledge how you feel, give yourself space to think and ask the honest questions rather than rushing into decisions.
Your next steps
If you are sensing change, or currently navigating it, take simple, practical steps:
- Create short, regular space for reflection
- Be honest about what feels aligned and what no longer fits
- Seek support rather than carrying everything alone
- Begin exploring possibilities rather than committing to a single path too quickly
Career change is rarely straightforward, but with clarity, support and a well-structured approach, it becomes a journey you can navigate with confidence rather than fear.
