Liminal Spaces in Your Career: Turning Transition into Personal R&D
The professional landscape has shifted. We are no longer running marathons; we are engaging in a series of sprints.
Consequently, we are spending more time in Liminal Spaces. This is the space that houses the time between who we were and who we are becoming.
It’s that foggy, uncomfortable transition when you’ve let go of the old trapeze bar but haven’t yet caught the new one. The discomfort comes from “Identity Lag.” Your internal sense of self hasn’t yet caught up to your new reality.
It is tempting to view these gaps as “downtime” or, worse, “lost time.” But if we can tolerate the anxiety, the liminal space offers something rare: clarity. It is the only time you are free from the inertia of “how things have always been done.” And I argue that we should view time as an opportunity to do some 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥&𝗗. In business, R&D is essential for future innovation. Why do we deny our careers the same courtesy? This requires some mindset shifts (Not easy, but something I remind myself every day as well)
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁: Instead of rushing to replicate your last role, treat this space as a sandbox. Run micro-experiments. Prototype many side projects, commit time limits and find what really works for you. The goal isn’t just employment; it’s alignment.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁: Smart companies are realising that “retention” doesn’t mean keeping someone in the same chair for 10 years. It means building internal mobility ecosystems, tours of duty, sabbaticals, and project rotations. All of this allows high performers to experience liminality without leaving the payroll.
𝗔 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸: I know that financial realities often demand speed over exploration. Sometimes, you need to pay the bills. That is valid. But if you find yourself with even a moment of breathing room, then don’t rush to fill the silence.
The next version of you is waiting in the quiet.
Nancy Levin beautifully said, “Honour the space between no longer and not yet.”
If we could take that philosophy further to “Don’t just respect the space between what was and what will be. 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁.”
Turn Uncertainty into Opportunity. Are you standing at a crossroads between who you've been and who you're becoming? These "liminal spaces" are perfect for personal R&D. I can help you navigate the journey to your next chapter and help you find alignment before you take the leap.
