The challenges no-one trained us for
It’s the first proper week back at work for a lot of people, including me, and I know I’ve found it hard to get stuck in again!
If the conversations I’ve been having are anything to go by, many of the problems people are dealing with at work now aren’t technical ones. They’re human ones.
They involve other people’s priorities, unspoken expectations, organisational politics, limited authority to really do anything, competing incentives, and hard decisions to make.
You can be highly capable, experienced, and conscientious, and still feel stuck.
This week inside Launchpad, we spent time working with exactly this kind of challenge. Each person brought a real situation they’re grappling with at work. Rather than jumping straight to solutions, we slowed things down and asked better questions.
Questions like:
- What question am I actually trying to answer here?
- What assumptions am I making about what’s possible, or what’s allowed?
- What would “progress” look like, rather than a perfect outcome?
What also really helped was hearing the different perspectives from the other Launchpad members who understand the reality of mid-career work. People who are juggling leadership responsibilities, technical credibility, organisational constraints, and life outside work.
Launchpad is a year-long programme designed to support mid-career professionals with exactly these kind of challenges. It combines live group sessions, coaching, practical tools, and a thoughtful peer community, and it works equally well for individuals and for organisations investing in their people.
If you’re dealing with complex people problems, leadership questions, or decision-making in situations where there isn’t a playbook, it's definitely worth a conversation.
I'd love to hear from you
You can book a call to explore whether Launchpad is a good fit for you, your organisation, or your team. I'd love to speak with you, or just hit reply with your questions.
Until next time,
Susan
