Conquer New Job Anxiety: Your Path to Success with the SET Approach

Updated 4/6/2025

You landed the job! Congratulations! The initial euphoria, however, often gives way to a wave of self-doubt and anxiety as you face the reality of a new role. You're not alone. According to Forbes, a staggering 87% of people experience anxiety when starting a new job. This is a normal, albeit challenging, transition. At Your Path Coaching and Consulting, we understand these feelings and believe in empowering you to navigate this change. Instead of letting anxiety dictate your experience, take control by developing a strategic plan for success. This blog will introduce you to the SET approach, a simple yet effective framework for excelling in your new role.

Introducing the SET Approach: Your Blueprint for Success

The SET approach is designed to help you proactively manage your transition, build strong foundations, and make a lasting positive impression. It's about slowing down, being intentional, and understanding the nuances of your new environment. To truly excel, you need to grasp the organizational culture, decision-making processes, resource allocation, and the definition of success. The SET approach guides you through this process with three key actions:

• Study Your Work Environment

• Engage with Stakeholders

• Tell Your Story

1. Study Your Work Environment: Knowledge is Power

The initial challenge in any new role is the knowledge gap. You're entering uncharted territory, and acclimating takes time. To bridge this gap, actively study your environment. Focus on understanding:

• Organizational Culture: What are the unspoken rules and values? How do people interact?

• Key Processes: How are decisions made? What are the workflows?

• Performance Expectations: How is success measured? What are the key performance indicators (KPIs)?

• Available Resources: What tools and support systems are available to you?

Remember, the first 30 days are crucial for information gathering. Leverage different learning styles, as suggested by Walter Burk Barbe, Ph.D.:

• Visual: Observe meetings, review documents, and study organizational charts.

• Auditory: Attend meetings, listen to conversations, and ask questions.

• Kinesthetic: Participate in hands-on activities, shadow colleagues, and learn by doing.

2. Engage with Stakeholders: Building Relationships for Success

Effective leadership and teamwork are built on trust, as Patrick Lencioni emphasizes. To build trust, you must understand and serve the needs of your stakeholders. Engage with:

• Your Manager: Understand their expectations and priorities.

• Team Members: Learn their roles, responsibilities, and challenges.

• Cross-Functional Colleagues: Build relationships and understand interdependencies.

• Clients/Customers: Understand their needs and expectations.

• Senior Leadership: Gain insights into the organization's strategic direction.

Schedule one-on-one and group meetings to actively listen, ask insightful questions, and identify opportunities to contribute.

3. Tell Your Story: Connect and Build Rapport

As you engage with stakeholders, be prepared to share your story. This helps build rapport and creates connections. Develop:

• A 30-Second Introduction: Clearly and concisely communicate who you are and your role.

• Relevant Anecdotes: Share experiences from your previous roles and your journey to this new position.

• Personal Interests: Share appropriate personal details to build connections.

Remember to engage in two-way conversations, actively listening and responding to questions. Aim for concise, two-minute or less speaking segments to encourage dialogue.

Your Path Coaching and Consulting: Your Partner in Transition

At Your Path Coaching and Consulting, we guide individuals through career transitions. Our executive coaching and business consulting services are tailored to help you:

• Develop a personalized transition plan.

• Enhance your leadership and communication skills.

• Build strong relationships and navigate organizational dynamics.

• Overcome self-doubt and achieve your professional goals.

Don't let anxiety hold you back. Schedule a free consultation with Your Path Coaching and Consulting today to discuss how we can help you excel in your new role. Visit our website at www.yourpathexecutivesoltuions.com to learn more about our services.

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Your Partner in Career Success

I'm not just a writer; I'm also a father, husband, executive coach, and former retail executive. My 21 years of experience leading operations, sales, and marketing teams have given me firsthand knowledge of feeling stuck, undervalued, and underappreciated.

But I also know the transformative power of professional development, the strategies for climbing the corporate ladder, and the profound satisfaction of finding fulfillment in your work.Your career path is a unique journey of discovery. Each opportunity builds upon the last. At Your Path Coaching and Consulting, we're dedicated to helping you gain clarity, accelerate your professional growth, and unlock your full potential.

We offer personalized coaching and consulting services to empower you at every career stage. Our expertise includes:

Executive Coaching: Guiding leaders to enhance their leadership skills, communication abilities, and team dynamics.

Business Consulting: Helping organizations optimize strategies, foster growth, and build high-performing teams.

Career Coaching: Assisting individuals in defining a career path and building the skills, network, and competencies needed to maximize their potential.

Our holistic approach combines proven techniques with a deep understanding of your needs and aspirations.

Connect with us:

Website: www.yourpathexecutivesolutions.com

Email: dcunion@yourpathexecutivesolutions.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/your-path-coaching-and-consulting

Testimonial:

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Increasing Awareness Helps Leaders with ADHD

One of the features of ADHD is that your mind frequently consumes more information than what your brain knows what to do with. Neurotypical individuals are better at filtering information, making it easier to focus on tasks and not get distracted by noise. Attention regulation is a strength because it comes with the ability to apply the appropriate amount of attention to a situation. Individuals with ADHD have a tendency to hyper-fixate or be inattentive, which can make their performance and productivity sporadic. Sporadic performance can create distinct challenges within a workplace because both the employee and those around them see the potential the employee has when they are at their best, but they are also aware that stress, anxiety, distractions, and low interest hamper individuals with ADHD from performing to their potential.

Everything starts with awareness.

Understanding how your brain works is essential for consistently performing at your best. Brains are like cars. They all have the same basic structure, but the amount of horsepower, maneuverability, responsiveness, and stopping ability differ. The ADHD brain is like a stick shift, while a neurotypical brain is more like an automatic. One is not inherently better than another; they are just different.

Driving a stick shift requires more focus, attention, and skill than driving an automatic. You have to pay more attention to the car. You have to feel how hard the engine is working and listen to the sounds the car is making. Being mindful of these details lets you respond accordingly and create a smooth, pleasurable driving experience. Making the most of an ADHD brain is similar, except instead of listening to the signals that the car is giving you, you have to listen to your body and the world around you.

Paying attention to signals instead of noise

Remembering critical information is essential to maximizing one's potential. It is easier to remember information when one perceives it as applicable to one's daily life. The challenge for individuals with ADHD is differentiating between essential details one should retain and noise one should ignore. Giving too much attention to things of little consequence can rob you of the time and energy you need to achieve your goals.

Have you ever been to a baseball game and heard the sound of a ball hitting against a bat? When you heard that noise, was it a signal you needed to pay attention to or just background noise that you ignored? Your answer depends on the context.  

• Why were you at the game?

• Where were you sitting?

• What was your reason for attending the game?

If you were sitting in a suite during a business outing and your primary purpose for being at the game was to get to know a potential customer better, you would register that sound as background noise. If it was early in the game and you had no threat of being hit by a ball, you likely were paying attention to your potential customer and not the details of the game.

You would have heard the sound differently if you had paid $200 to sit on the third baseline and watch your favorite team with a close friend who also loves baseball. The pop would have been a signal to look away from your phone and see what was happening. You would have wanted to see if the batter just hit a home run or if a foul ball was coming your way. Context significantly impacts what a signal is versus what a noise is.  

Individuals with ADHD tend to have a more challenging time differentiating between signals and noise. Regardless of the context, their brain are more likely to pay attention to both the signal and the noise. The drive to hear and pay attention to everything can distract you from the details of what is truly important. Being distracted by noise carries the risk of not identifying the importance of critical information.

The solution

It is critical to acknowledge that ADHD brains function differently. There is no cure for ADHD. Having ADHD is not your problem. Your problems likely are that you become easily distracted, focus on the wrong things, have challenges starting projects, and hyper-fixate too much. By getting specific about the challenges you have, it is easier to develop solutions. In addition, many of the best practices for managing ADHD are also helpful for neurotypical individuals.

• The first thing you should focus on is mental health hygiene. Mental health hygiene involves eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising, and finding outlets to express yourself creatively. Be intentional about taking care of your mind and body.

• Next, it is good to have clear goals. These goals must be visual. Get your aspirations out of your head, and on to a piece of paper. This can be done through vision boards, vision statements, journaling, and form is not as important as the process. By getting your goals on paper, you can reference them daily, and reflect on how your current actions an behaviors align with your goals. 

• Develop a system for tracking what you should be doing to achieve your goals. This system should include a calendar and things to-do list. Individuals with ADHD love novelty, so do not worry if you change your system periodically. Using paper or an app is not as important as the behavior of writing things down, leaving yourself reminders, and scheduling when you will do specific tasks.

• Finally and most importantly, define what you will not do. One of the most significant challenges of people with ADHD is overcommitting to task. Overcommitting happens for two reasons. One people with ADHD are generally not good at gauging how long things will take. Two, they find many things interesting and want to pursue various paths. To succeed, you have to fight the belief that more is always better. Committing to fewer things will give you the time and energy to achieve those truly essential things.

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Summary

Having ADHD is a blessing, and it is a curse. Many of the best small business owners and creatives I know have ADHD. Their dynamic minds are their superpower. They know when they have to self-regulate and be on. They also know when to relax and allow their minds to wander. Regardless of how your mind works, you must understand your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to build a strategy to help you succeed. We live in an extraordinary time period with access to information and support. Dedicate time to reading about ADHD. Work with coaches and therapists who specialize in helping people with ADHD. You can achieve more of your goals if you seek knowledge and help and commit to getting a little better every day. 

The Enneagram: Better Understand Your Drives, Fears, and Behavior Patterns.

At Your Path Coaching & Consulting, we empower individuals and organizations to reach their full potential. A key tool we utilize in our holistic approach to personal and professional development is the Enneagram. This powerful system provides profound insights into your core motivations, fears, and behavior patterns, offering a roadmap for transformative growth.

What is the Enneagram?

The Enneagram is a dynamic personality system that outlines nine distinct personality types. It delves beyond surface-level behaviors, revealing the underlying emotional drivers that shape our thoughts, actions, and interactions. This emotionally focused system helps us understand our deepest fears and desires, ultimately leading to greater self-awareness and improved relationships.

The Three Centers of Intelligence:

Understanding the Enneagram begins with recognizing the three Centers of Intelligence:

• Heart Center (Types Two, Three, and Four): These types are driven by emotions and connection. They prioritize relationships and seek validation and belonging.

• Head Center (Types Five, Six, and Seven): These types rely on intellect and analysis. They strive for knowledge, security, and mental stimulation.

• Body Center (Types Eight, Nine, and One): These types operate from instinct and gut feelings. They focus on autonomy, control, and integrity.

The Nine Enneagram Types:

Let's explore each type and its core motivations:

• Type One: The Perfectionist: Driven by a desire for integrity and correctness, Ones strive for excellence and adhere to high standards. They fear being flawed or corrupt.

• Type Two: The Giver: Motivated by a need to be loved and appreciated, Twos are compassionate and helpful. They fear being unlovable or unwanted.

• Type Three: The Achiever: Focused on success and recognition, Threes are driven and adaptable. They fear failure and being seen as worthless.

• Type Four: The Individualist: Seeking authenticity and uniqueness, Fours are creative and introspective. They fear being ordinary or insignificant.

• Type Five: The Investigator: Driven by a desire for knowledge and understanding, Fives are analytical and independent. They fear being overwhelmed or incompetent.

• Type Six: The Skeptic: Seeking security and certainty, Sixes are loyal and responsible. They fear being unprepared or unsupported.

• Type Seven: The Enthusiast: Driven by a desire for adventure and stimulation, Sevens are optimistic and versatile. They fear being trapped or in pain.

• Type Eight: The Challenger: Focused on control and power, Eights are assertive and protective. They fear being vulnerable or controlled.

• Type Nine: The Peacemaker: Seeking harmony and peace, Nines are easygoing and accepting. They fear conflict and separation.

How the Enneagram Enhances Professional Development:

At Your Path Coaching & Consulting, we integrate the Enneagram into our coaching programs to:

• Increase Self-Awareness: By understanding your Enneagram type, you gain valuable insights into your strengths, weaknesses, and blind spots.

• Improve Communication: The Enneagram helps you understand how different types communicate and interact, fostering more effective collaboration and conflict resolution.

• Enhance Leadership Skills: By recognizing your own leadership style and the styles of others, you can build stronger teams and create a more positive work environment.

• Navigate Career Transitions: The Enneagram can help you identify career paths that align with your core motivations and values.

• Develop Emotional Intelligence: By understanding your emotional triggers and patterns, you can cultivate greater emotional resilience and self-regulation.

• Team Building: Understanding your team members' enneagrams can help you build more effective and productive teams. This is a core part of our business consulting services.

• Executive Coaching: The enneagram is a powerful tool for helping executives understand their leadership style and how it affects their teams.

Enneagram in One-on-One Coaching and Group Workshops:

One-on-One Coaching:

• In individual sessions, we use the Enneagram to provide personalized insights and guidance. We help you identify your core motivations, understand your behavior patterns, and develop personal and professional growth strategies.

• We work with you to address specific challenges, such as communication difficulties, leadership development, or career transitions, using the Enneagram as a framework for understanding and addressing these issues.

• We assist with creating personal development plans tailored to each individual’s enneagram type.

Group Workshops:

• Our workshops provide a dynamic and interactive learning environment where participants can explore the Enneagram and its applications in a collaborative setting.

• We facilitate discussions and exercises that help participants understand the different Enneagram types and how they interact with each other.

• We focus on team dynamics, communication skills, and conflict resolution, using the Enneagram to enhance understanding and improve collaboration.

• Workshops help teams to understand each other, and create a more harmonious work environment.

Our Approach:

We believe in a personalized approach to coaching and consulting. Through in-depth assessments and one-on-one sessions or group workshops, we help you identify your Enneagram type and develop strategies for personal and professional growth. We empower you to leverage your strengths, overcome challenges, and achieve sustainable success.

Take the Next Step:

Ready to unlock your full potential? Schedule a free consultation or inquire about our group workshops with Your Path Coaching & Consulting today. Let us guide you on your journey to self-discovery and professional excellence.

Connect with Us:

• Website: www.yourpathexecutivesolutions.com

• Email: dcunion@yourpathexecutivesolutions.com

• Phone: 804-220-5771

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