The Art of Ending Well
We were in a holding pattern. The acquisition had been announced, the timeline set.
Many of us could read the writing on the wall, anticipating that closing the deal would mean the end of an era.
We didn’t know when it would change or how it would change.
Many were starting to worry about what it would be like to work for the new company. Would the work change? The culture? Pay and benefits?
Others were anticipating a termination letter and severance package. How much runway would there be? How hard would it be to find another job? Would the new job be fulfilling or pay enough?
We were in limbo, and everyone was focused on an uncertain future. Things had come to a standstill, everyone focusing on just enough to get by and meet commitments, but no one was truly engaged in the work.
Have you ever felt this way?
Many of my clients face this feeling.
One isn’t thrilled with her current role, and is actively considering what kind of job she’d want instead. It’s easy for her to focus on what she hates about her current role, and laser in on the next chapter.
Another has been on an intentional break that included travel, relaxation, and time with hobbies. Now he’s stressing about the effort it’s going to take to get a new job and being hard on himself for still taking time for relaxation.
A different client is anticipating the upcoming change of being an empty nester, wondering how to fill her time when not caring for her beloved children.
It’s so easy to focus on the next chapter, and we certainly should to a degree. We often do need to prepare ourselves for what’s coming, make plans, and take action.
And yet, when we’re laser focused on setting up our next chapter, we often forget to end the chapter we’re in with intention and grace.
The people we’re leading feel like their leader is checked out, not present, not helpful.
Our teammates feel our disdain or anger about our work and question our ability to do the job they need from us.
Our work suffers and we risk burning bridges.
So how do we shift this pattern so that we can end one chapter well while still preparing for our next chapter?
It starts with intention. Imagine yourself one or two years into the future, solidly in your next chapter. The chapter you’re in now is just a memory. Now, consider these questions:
When you look back on this chapter, once it’s complete, how do you want to FEEL about it?
Imagine you’re telling your story a year or two in the future. How do you want to feel as you talk about this chapter and how it ended? How do you want others to feel as you share your story with them?
What do you want to be TRUE about this chapter, that isn’t true yet?
Are there skills you want to learn or projects you want to complete? Perhaps it’s a relationship you want to mend or an impact you want to make.
How do you want to be REMEMBERED for this chapter?
What do you want to come to mind as your staff, team, peers, or leader talks about this chapter?
Next, take a moment to consider what ACTIONS you want to take now, while you’re still in this chapter, to make these things come true.
Perhaps it’s a mindshift you want to make about your current circumstances, a project you want to prioritize, a skill you want to bring into your portfolio. What do you need to do to make it happen?
We’re all in transition, focusing on what we want to set up for the future, thinking about what we don’t like in our current situation. By taking a moment to reflect on what we want for this current chapter, we’re able to make it happen so we can look back on our life knowing we did what we wanted to do.
What do you want to do to make sure you end this chapter well?
Send me a note with what you’re going to focus on. I’d love to hear from you.
February 26, 2026
About the author:
Christina Von Stroh is a leadership coach who helps her clients become wildly successful by applying iterative software development practices to achieve their dreams. Want to work with Christina to help you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
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