Reframe, Don't Reset | Episode 9

Описание: There's a difference between resetting and reframing.

Most organizations treat a new year or new quarter like a magic eraser—turn the page, set new goals, pretend last year's struggles disappeared. But people don't forget what they experienced just because the calendar changed. And that "fresh start" energy? It often feels more performative than real.

In this episode of How Work Actually Works, Joe Marques and KayLee Hansen challenge the pressure-filled rituals of goal-setting and explore what it actually takes to build momentum that lasts. They unpack why clarity beats speed, how trust erodes fastest under pressure, and what happens when leaders confuse a beautiful plan with real progress.

Joe shares a story about flipping engagement planning on its head—putting it in employees' hands instead of leaders'—and what his team reflected back that he'd never seen himself. KayLee brings the sports analogies (Blue Jays heartbreak included) and a square dancing reference you didn't know you needed.

They also introduce the "15 Minute December Look Back"—a simple exercise that helps teams define what a great year actually feels like before it's already over.

Whether you're in a final push or staring down a fresh planning cycle, this episode offers a different way to approach goal-setting—one that honors what happened and focuses on what actually matters.

Key Takeaways

Why resetting ignores reality while reframing builds from it
How trust breaks down when leaders only show it during easy times
The danger of planning with false certainty—and why beautiful plans give you dopamine without progress
One question that shifts goal-setting from KPIs to real intention
How to ask your team what they don't want to lose

Better years don't start with turning the page.

They start with telling the truth about what's already written.