How to make a great impression in a new role (without burning yourself out)

Hi there,

A few days ago I commented on Grace Beverley’s post about making a great impression in a new role, and it made some waves (26,000+ impressions and a bunch of new followers, woop woop)

Here's how I approached starting a new job in the past:

I'm sharing it here because I think a lot of you will recognise yourselves in it.

You've just stepped into a new role. Your instinct tells you: prove yourself immediately!! Work harder. Share great ideas. Communicate confidently. Be visible. Never look uncertain. Know the answer to every question, ESPECIALLY the difficult ones!

It feels like the right thing to do. But… it's actually not.

Here's what I've learned from coaching 150+ introverted folks through exactly this transition: your imposter syndrome is rarely about your talent or competence. There’s a reason why you got this role, so you’re probably fine. Your self-doubt and anxiety to do more might actually be… self-inflicted.

(let that sink in 🦗🦗🦗)

Sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to prove our worth that it drains us. We start behaving unlike ourselves, and often totally neglect the importance of setting boundaries. It’s ESPECIALLY important at the beginning, when you’re shaping your reputation and how people perceive you.

If you’re this “always on”, super reliable, pretty much irreplaceable person who always says yes - guess what, people will overload you with work. And in many cases, you won’t get credit for it because it’s your baseline.

The version of you that says yes to everything, absorbs every tension, and never pushes back might feel like making a great impression short term but it’s more of a trap long term.

So, when you start a new role, don’t act like a people-pleaser.

There’s a reason why people say “dress for the job you want, not for the job you have”. While I’m not the right person to advise you on fashion, I can definitely say this:

Your communication and presence need to match the level you want to be at. I know I sound like a broken record, but confidence comes from taking action, not from waiting until you feel ready. Practice communicating like a senior leader BEFORE you get to the top.

One thing worth knowing if you're moving into a Head of or Director role specifically:

The behaviours that made you brilliant in your last role can actually work against you in a new one - because a new role requires something different from you. At this level, your role suddenly splits between execution (comfortable, measurable) and strategic work (uncomfortable, no blueprint, and “mainly thinking”). For high achievers, “just thinking” doesn't feel productive, so we default to “doing” - and that doesn’t scream senior leader!

Say less, but make it count. At Director or Head of level, people aren't looking for detail - they're looking for direction. One client used to rewrite every email 3-4 times in her first month as Director. When she stripped her updates back to a clear summary and a single decision, her CEO started responding faster. You will gain more trust by communicating more strategically. I shared more about this case study on LinkedIn.

Use your 1:1s to show how you think. Most new leaders focus so much on managing down that they forget about managing up. Your 1:1 with YOUR manager is one of the fastest ways to shape how you're perceived - not by reporting everything that's happening, but by sharing your thinking. What you're noticing, what you're working through, what you need.

Let people hear your reasoning, not just your answer. You won't always have the perfect answer - and that's fine, because senior leadership isn't about certainty. It's about sound judgement. When you say things like "the reason I'm leaning this way is…" or "the main trade-off I'm considering is…", you build trust even when things are still evolving.

None of these are dramatic changes. They're small shifts in how you show up every day. And the difference they make is real!!

I know, because I see it among my coaching clients:

If you've just stepped into a new role (or about to do it), I made something for you.

It's a free guide: make a great impression in your new role (without imposter syndrome) - with practical tools you can use immediately, in meetings, in your 1:1s, and in everyday conversations.

→ Download it here ✅

If you know someone who just got promoted (and is quietly terrified) - forward them this email or share this link. It might be exactly what they need to step into this new role with more confidence.

Speak soon,
Karolina

P.P.S. When you're ready, two ways I can support you: