Every executive, leader, or high performer brings experience to a new role. With experience comes instinct—the gut calls, the “I’ve seen this before” feeling, and the internal checklists that have served you well. But let’s be honest: sometimes that baggage travels too far.
“I’ve done this before…” “This is how it’s always worked…” “Trust me, I know the pitfalls.” Sound familiar? Sure, these instincts can save time and guide decisions—but they can also blind you to the nuances of a new environment, a new team, or a new client. What worked elsewhere can easily become a lens, not a guide.
No two organisations, projects, or teams are the same. Your “tried and true” methods may be irrelevant—or worse, disruptive. The real skill is knowing when to lean on experience and when to pause, observe, and learn.
So, how do you travel light while still bringing the value of experience with you?
- Step back first: Don’t assume you have the answers. Observe the context, listen to the people around you, and take stock of the situation before acting.
- Ask questions that matter: Engage stakeholders. Understand their priorities, frustrations, and ways of working. Your job isn’t to impose the past—it’s to understand the present.
- Leave assumptions at the door: Biases and preconceived notions are heavier than they seem. They cloud judgment and limit your impact.
This isn’t about ignoring your expertise—it’s about amplifying it. When you approach a new challenge with curiosity first and experience second, you unlock insights you wouldn’t have seen if you’d marched in with a playbook from your last role.
I’ve seen it countless times: smart, capable leaders stumble not because they lack skill, but because they brought yesterday’s solutions to today’s problems. The irony? That same experience, applied strategically, is exactly what could have made the difference—if only it had been applied in the right context.
Starting fresh takes humility. It means giving the role, the people, and the situation the respect of seeing it as it is. It means combining instinct with observation, judgment with insight, and experience with curiosity.
Do this well, and your past becomes a springboard—not a suitcase weighing you down. And yes, sometimes that suitcase is literal. The lighter you travel, the more impact you can make. Pack your insight, leave the excess baggage behind, and approach your next role with clarity, curiosity, and confidence.
Who knows… maybe I’ll apply the same lesson to my next trip and pack a little lighter!
