Finding Calm, Purpose, and Progress When Everything Feels Like It’s on Fire due to sudden change

A story of sudden change, empathy, and unexpected growth

I still remember that day vividly—the day I found out my entire software engineering team was being shifted from one vendor to another. Ten-plus years of working side-by-side, sharing laughs, celebrating weddings, welcoming new babies, and helping each other grow—poof, just like that. The company had decided to consolidate vendors for better pricing, and we were given three months to transfer a decade of knowledge to a new team. Way to much sudden change!

Needless to say, we were shocked. Angry. Sad. It felt like an emotional gut punch. These weren’t just colleagues; they were my people. Many had been on the account for so long that they felt like part of the family. We’d built something strong together.

And then, just to spice things up, the universe threw in a global pandemic. Three weeks after the announcement, we all found ourselves working from home, juggling remote collaboration, emotional stress, and the demands of transferring knowledge under an impossible deadline. Can you say MASSIVE CHANGE ALL AT ONCE?

Looking back now, I often ask myself: How the hell did we get through that?

Here’s what I’ve realized.

Treat Everyone the Same—Because We’re All in This Together

One thing that always mattered to me is treating everyone the same, whether they were a contractor or a full-timer. We were all working toward the same goals, the same product, the same mission. That mindset built trust and camaraderie.

Maybe that’s why contractors stuck around for so long. They felt like they belonged and are important members of the team. They were learning, growing, and adding real value. It wasn’t just another gig; it was a place to thrive.

Collaboration and Empathy The Only Way Through the Fire

When the change came, collaboration and patience was our lifeline. Everyone—old vendor team, new vendor team, FTEs—had to put aside any frustration and focus on making the transition successful.

We had to acknowledge the grief and the anger. Ten-hour days became the norm as we all hustled to share knowledge, troubleshoot issues, and keep things running. Vendors clashed sometimes, old folks sad to go, new folks overwhelmed, but empathy kept us afloat. We listened, we helped each other, and we stayed focused on the goal: keep the systems alive.

Perfect? Not Even Close

Let’s be real, stuff broke. Things fell through the cracks. Some transitions were messy. But what did we learn?

First, I never thought we’d lose an entire team so quickly. It forced all of us to step up, dive deeper, and own parts of the system we’d always relied on consultants to handle. You never know what challenges will be thrown at you.

I learned more in those three months than in the previous two years combined. And while it put a dent in some of my modernization strategies, like stabilizing before you modernize, it also created opportunities.

Growth Through the Fire

Losing that team was painful, but it forced growth. We couldn’t lean on the old vendor’s knowledge anymore. It was just us now, our lean FTE team and the new vendor folks, who needed time to ramp up.

We learned, we adapted, and eventually, we came out stronger. Now, we’re back on track and moving forward.

The Takeaway

When everything feels like it’s on fire, it’s easy to panic. But by treating everyone like part of the team, prioritizing empathy, focusing on collaboration, and staying calm, we not only survived but found new strength.

Change can feel like a slap in the face, but it also pushes us to grow in ways we never imagined. And that’s the silver lining I wouldn’t trade for anything.