The Art of Beginning Well – How to Show Up Authentically and Powerfully in Your New Job

Congratulations! You’ve received a job offer and are now preparing to step into your new role. This is such a meaningful milestone, and in the coaching room I often hear a mix of excitement, curiosity, and that little undercurrent of anxiousness that comes with any big transition.

This post is an offering — a reflection space and a practical guide to help you feel clear on how to lean into your natural preferences and strengths. The aim? To help you shape your own 90-day plan in a way that feels aligned, grounded, and empowering.There are many formal frameworks out there — but I believe it comes down to a few mindful foundations.

1. Clarify What You Want to Learn, Grow and Contribute

Take a moment to reflect on your aspirations for this role.
– What are the key learning opportunities you want to embrace?
– What skills do you want to add to your toolkit — not just for now, but to support the next steps on your career path?

When you consciously map out what you’d love to add to your resume or the experience you want to gain, you’re already crafting a career path that’s aligned with your vision. This also helps prime your brain to spot opportunities — whether that’s a project, a conversation, or a stretch assignment.

Tip: Use your 1:1s — weekly or fortnightly — with your leader to get clarity on what success looks like in the first 3, 6, and 12 months.

This is also a great space to share ideas, suggest improvements, and identify areas for innovation. It’s where your natural leadership — self and collective — gets to shine.

2. Define What Work-Life Balance Means to You

Work-life balance (or integration) looks different for everyone. It depends on our values, priorities, energy, and stage of life.

– What does living a rich, fulfilling life look like for you?
– What are your non-negotiables — the things that help you feel centred, inspired, and well?

This picture becomes your North Star. It’s something you can come back to whenever you’re navigating boundaries or making decisions.

Ask yourself: “Does this honour the life I want to create?”

Time management also lives here. Busyness has a way of following us if we’re not conscious of it.

Consider time-blocking, clearly communicating your availability, and setting boundaries around your working hours and accessibility. It’s okay to own your calendar and protect your energy.

3. Reconnect With What You Already Know About Relationship Building

Reflect on what’s helped you in the past to build strong, authentic relationships — especially when stepping into something new.

Even if there’s a formal onboarding in place, take ownership of your own journey.

Set up introductory meetings with your colleagues and key stakeholders with the intention of connecting and building trust. Use these conversations to understand:

• What their role is, and what’s important to them this year
  
• How they see your role supporting their goals
  
• What they love about the organisation, and what they attribute their success to
  
• Their preferred ways of working and communicating (call, email, in-person, message?)
  
• And — of course — what their favourite coffee or tea is!
  

These simple but powerful questions offer so much insight — not just into how people work, but who they are.

They also give others the gift of feeling seen and heard.

4. Consider Your Elevator Pitch

Whether it’s in a team meeting or a casual 1:1, you’ll likely be asked to share a little about your background.

Take some time to think of how you would like to introduce yourself — both formally and informally?

Revisit your Career Profile in your resume — let it remind you of your experience, your style, and how you want to be seen. This is the foundation of your personal brand.

Ask yourself:

• What do I want to be known for?
  
• What three words would I love people to associate with me?
  
• How can I bring that essence into every interaction?
  

This is what I sometimes call conscious positioning — not in a superficial way, but in a way that allows others to see you clearly and confidently.

And Finally… Begin With Intention and Self-Trust

I know this might feel like a lot — and that’s okay.

Come back to this resource as often as you need. You don’t have to get it all right in week one.

Trust in your strengths. Honour your values. Lead with presence.

You’ve got this — not because you have to prove anything, but because who you are is already enough.

Recommended Listening & Reading

To support your journey, here are a few resources I love sharing with clients:

• The Next Conversation – Jefferson Fisher (audiobook): Tools for navigating communication with clarity and calm.
  
• Cues – Vanessa Van Edwards: An insightful read on presence, non-verbal intelligence, and how to send the right social signals.