The Liminal Season
Amongst the excitement of book launch activities and the upcoming Gathering preparations, I also find myself stepping into a new chapter, beginning my role as EA to the Campus Principal at Beaconhills next week.
Over the course of our working lives in schools, we may work for one or several senior executives.
The space between what was and what’s next, standing at the threshold of change, known as liminality - has spanned approximately four months. My previous boss moved on to another school, an exciting new beginning for him, and soon I’ll begin working with someone new.
It’s the moment when one chapter is closing, but the next hasn’t yet begun- a threshold that can feel both unsettling, marked by a sense of professional loss, and full of promise. It’s a strange and tender place to stand, filled with reflection, anticipation, and quiet transformation.
And I’ll be honest − I haven't really enjoyed this period. As an Executive Assistant, it's not an easy place to be. The unknown looms large, and questions swirl: What will the future hold? I’m sure many of you have been here before. The relationships, rhythms, and shared understandings that once defined your ‘dynamic duo’ begin to fade as your senior executive moves on.
It’s actually a lonely in-between place, watching your former leader step into new beginnings, new people, new routines - while you remain, holding the memories and momentum of what was. If you’re a senior executive reading this, take a moment to check in with your EA during this transition. It can be an incredibly isolating time, where even a small gesture of connection, reassurance, or gratitude can mean more than you realise.
Yet we carry forward the gratitude for the time we’ve shared, the lessons, the laughter. And the learning doesn’t end here - it just simply evolves, for both parties. The new chapter for both parties brings fresh perspectives, opportunities to adapt and grow, and the chance to build new professional relationships grounded in trust and curiosity.
Liminality reminds us that these moments are not just gaps to be endured, but spaces to be embraced. Here, reflection meets anticipation. Growth takes shape in the quiet middle ground. And while transitions can feel uncertain, they also offer the rare opportunity to begin again - to build trust, to learn new ways of working, and to shape a partnership grounded in respect, understanding, and growth.
I know that I am about to embark on an incredible new journey, one filled with opportunity, learning, and yes, a few nerves. I’m entering a new partnership with an educational leader, a relationship that, over time, will evolve into something professional, strategic, trustworthy, loyal, and mutually supportive.
Perhaps these learnings might be helpful for you as you navigate your own transition phase — wherever you may find yourself standing at the threshold of what’s next.
