Phew, what a pace! There are new ways of working, new jobs and new technologies, and now the AI express is thundering down the track as well. No wonder so many of us are struggling to keep up. “Change is demanding – it takes effort,” says Professor Volker Busch, a neuroscientist at the University Hospital in Regensburg. “When we learn something new, the brain uses its outermost layer, the neocortex – and that burns a lot of sugar, up to 20 per cent of our daily calories.” Habits, by contrast, are like the brain’s energy-saving mode – familiar routines that cost far less effort.
So far, so good. But how can we improve our ability to handle constant change? How can we identify our real strengths? To find out more, we spoke to Lena Bierwirth in Cologne. The business psychologist has spent many years helping employees navigate change in her role as a coach and consultant at the transformation consultancy 3k. “Behind all the buzzwords like 'transformation' or 'restructuring', change always happens on a deeply personal level,” she explains.
People react very differently to change. What excites one person can stress out another. That’s why, as Bierwirth explains, it’s important to start by looking inwards. "The key to steering yourself and staying effective in your surroundings is self-reflection."
So how do you do that? These five expert tips can help.
Tip 1: The Pit Stop
Take a breather. Self-reflection starts with a pause. "Taking an inner pit stop helps you see what you can control and what your next steps might be," says coach Lena Bierwirth.
Here are five questions to help you gain clarity of thought:
Where am I right now in this period of change?
What emotions does the situation trigger, and why?
What can I influence, and what can I not influence?
What do I want to change or commit to doing?
Who or what can support me?
Tip 2: Know Your Strengths
Self-reflection involves recognising your strengths and asking others for feedback. Your colleagues or friends can be a valuable sounding board.
Five questions for self-analysis:
In which situations do others see me at my best?
What gives me energy and what drains it?
What topics do people often ask me for advice on?
What do others appreciate about me?
What has helped me succeed in the past?
Tip from Wir.Hier: Write down your answers and consider a specific time frame, such as the past three months. This 'timeline method' reveals what drives and strengthens you.
Tip 3: Find Your “Why”
The Japanese concept of ikigai roughly translates as 'the reason you get up in the morning'.It's a simple yet powerful idea: fulfilment arises where the following four things overlap:
What you love. What you’re good at. What the world needs. What you’re paid for.
At the intersection of these four areas lies your personal ikigai — your inner drive that gives you purpose and direction.
Tip from Wir.Hier: write down three keywords for each of the four points. Where they overlap, you’ll find your core motivation — your compass for decision-making and change.
Tip 4: Shift Your Mindset
“Our thoughts shape how we experience change,” says Bierwirth. “Instead of getting stuck in reactive patterns, it helps to think in terms of growth.”
Instead of thinking:
Nothing I do will make a difference. → Ask: How can I create meaning here?
What I do doesn’t matter anyway. → Ask: Where do I actually have influence?
It’s always been this way. → Ask: What can I learn from this?
This shift, from focusing on problems to using your energy to create, doesn’t just change your attitude. It also changes how you experience change itself.
Tip 5: Trust Yourself
Change requires trust – in yourself, in others, and in the process. Looking back at times when change went well can help. When did I manage change successfully in the past? What strengths helped me then? Which of those have I built on since? “Reflecting on what has worked before strengthens your confidence and gives you the courage to face what’s ahead,” says 3k coach Lena Bierwirth.
