The Architecture of Change: Mastering the Messy Middle
- Dilek Süzal
- Oct 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 9
It was early summer when Anne Barnea from Think Beyond Group invited me to join their new leadership podcast, Think Beyond Talks. As someone who’s long admired their visionary approach, I couldn’t wait to join a dialogue that goes beyond business into purpose and impact.
By mid-August, we recorded the first episode that launched the podcast, diving deep into what it really means to stay ready for change, to build resilience when everything shifts, and to navigate the messy middle with courage and clarity.
🎧 Listen here: From Messy Middles to New Beginnings: Dilek Süzal on Change and Resilience, Episode #1
This blog post is about my 'WHY' and your 'HOW'.
I began my career as an architect, obsessed with creativity, structure, and stability. But what truly drew people to me wasn’t only my design style, it was the conversations behind it.
My clients didn’t just want a new kitchen; they wanted spaces that brought their families closer. Helping them find clarity, the why behind their change, became far more meaningful than aesthetics.
That realization reshaped my own foundation.
Architecture and personal growth, I discovered, share the same blueprint: every meaningful transformation begins with understanding why you’re building in the first place.
That journey, from designing spaces to helping people redesign their lives, taught me that change readiness is conscious willingness.
Problem: Change Feels Like a Never-ending Renovation
Change can feel like standing in a building site mid-renovation, familiar walls gone, everything unstable.
In disruption, we rush to rebuild, to feel safe again.
Solution: Mastering the Messy Middle
Whether managing teams, careers, or transitions, it’s about adapting with intention.
The Messy Middle is where most lose patience, yet it’s exactly where transformation takes shape if we stay resilient!
The Science of Resilience
Dr. Martin Seligman defines resilience through the 3 Ps:
Personalization: Not every setback is your fault.
Pervasiveness: One problem doesn’t define everything.
Permanence: Difficult moments are temporary.
And the concept Resilience Bank Account, a metaphor for emotional and psychological reserves makes it more tangible. You make deposits through sleep, reflection, movement, connection, and small goals; withdrawals happen under stress. The more consistent the deposits, the stronger your foundation when life tests your structure.
3 Practical Strategies to Stay Resilient
🔹 #1 - Name the Phase You’re In
When things feel uncertain, say it: “This is the messy middle.”
Naming it normalizes discomfort makes it a temporary stage.
🔹 #2 - Redraw the Blueprint Weekly
Change shifts plans. Every Friday, review what worked and redesign the next week.
Small, steady adjustments prevent burnout and build momentum.
🔹 #3 - Make Daily Deposits to Your Resilience Bank Account
Every act of wellness, connection, or reflection is a deposit that strengthens you for future challenges. Consistency compounds resilience.
Change and resilience are your skills under construction. They grow each time we pause, breathe, flex and begin again, while everything is still taking shape.
If you’d like to strengthen your inner architecture of resilience and readiness for change, let’s connect.
Warmly,
Dilek
Official Collaboration Partners:
★ Lead Coach at the global coaching platform BetterUp based in USA.
★ Executive Coach and Trainer at SparkUs based in Turkey and Netherlands.
★ Impact Partner for coaching, training & facilitation projects at leadership experts Think Beyond Group based in Austria.
★ Leadership Coach at Percoms AG, based in Switzerland.
Click to Book Other Sessions:
