All situations
I'm changing jobs
Role shock is the same animal as grade shock. The first ninety days are about decoding an unwritten mandate.
Working peopleFocus & PerformanceBelonging & RelationshipsTransitions & What's Next
Working people
If you are working professional
- 1Surviving "Role Shock"Reframing early underperformance from an identity threat to actionable feedback.Working people
- 2Deconstructing the Ambiguous MandateTeaching employees to break vague, open-ended goals into weekly deliverables.Working people
- 3Addressing a Difficult ManagerDeveloping direct, professional scripts to address recurring friction.Working people
- 4Career Inflection-Point ParalysisBreaking an ambiguous future into manageable, near-term horizons.Working people
- 5Promotion vs. Lateral vs. Exit DecisionsDetermining whether to advance, move sideways, or leave strategically.Working people
- 6The First 90 Days of a New RoleEstablishing habits and boundaries to avoid early burnout.Working people
- 7Managing the "Blackhawk" MicromanagerCoaching an employee whose manager controls every decision.Working people
- 8Navigating Manager-Driven OverworkAddressing situations where a manager normalizes unsustainable hours.Working people
- 9De-escalating Managerial PanicCommunicating bad news without absorbing a manager's catastrophizing.Working people
- 10Separating Identity From Manager ApprovalDistinguishing self-worth from a single leader's validation.Working people
- 11Transitioning From Peer to ManagerGuiding the psychological shift into a leadership role.Working people
- 12Returning Employee: Re-Onboarding ConfidenceRebuilding footing after leave, caregiving, or extended absence.Working people
Episodes on this
- In productionThe Intervention Series
2. Role Shock
With an executive coach
- What is the difference between struggling and failing in a new role?
- How do you decode an ambiguous mandate in week two?
- In productionFirst Ninety Days
1. Week One: Decode Before You Deliver
With an executive coach
- What are you actually being measured on?
- Who decides whether you are doing well?
- In productionFirst Ninety Days
3. Belonging Without Performing
With an organisational psychologist
- How much of yourself do you bring?
- What does code-switching cost?
- In productionFirst Ninety Days
4. Saying No In Your First Quarter
With an executive coach
- Can you decline anything before you have proved yourself?
- What is the phrasing that protects the relationship?
- In productionFirst Ninety Days
5. Imposter Syndrome Is Not a Diagnosis
With an occupational psychologist
- When is it a distortion and when is it accurate information?
- Why does reassurance not work?
- In productionFirst Ninety Days
6. The Ninety Day Review You Run Yourself
With a career coach
- What did you learn about how this place works?
- What would you do differently in the next ninety?
Something else going on too?
I'm starting college
The first semester is a structural shock before it is an academic one. Start with the week, not the workload.
7 topics · 7 episodes
I have a new manager
A new manager resets every unspoken agreement you had. Rebuild them deliberately rather than by accident.
10 topics · 2 episodes
I'm starting a gig or going freelance
No structure arrives with the work. You have to build the week, the boundaries and the income floor yourself.
9 topics