When the change is deep and far-reaching, this time between the old identify and the new can stretch out for a long time. It is a time of much frustration, anxiety and tension. There may very well be a polarization between those who want to rush forward with the change and those who want to go back to the old way. At the same time, this chaotic nature of the neutral zone also makes this time full of creative opportunity. Beginnings are often scary because they involve actually becoming the new identity that the change is demanding.
Beginnings establish once and for all that the ending was real.
Any new way of doing things is also always a gamble. All of this contributes to the feelings of anxiety that accompany this phase. Since change has become a constant factor in our lives, it can be helpful to know and remember that experiencing these three phases of transition are a normal and expected part of our lives. Long ago and far away the Leadership Team chartered the Design Team to apply Whole System Architecture to ITD based on the Leadership Team's stated Vision, Mission, and Values. First among those values was a Team-Based Culture.