THE NEW START FEELING: EXPERIENCING TRANSITION IN THE FALL

Fall is a time of transition. The leaves change, the temperature drops, and kids go back to school; all of that affects how we approach our work.

As people settle back into their routines after summer, calendars fill with deadlines and events rather than vacations. Goals get revisited, and the end of the year starts to feel close.

In some ways, this time of year can feel like a second January.

In this edition of At The Starting Line, we look at that new start feeling of fall. This season is all about change, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating.

THE FALL RESET

Fall gives you a natural moment to reset your organization, your team, and yourself. How you reset is up to you, but here are a few places to start.

For us, At The Start, it’s about a mindset shift. Instead of looking back at the start of the year or staring down December, we try to stay grounded in the moment. We take time to think about where our work stands currently, what inspires us, and what will help us grow individually and collectively.

This is a time to revisit goals, reevaluate them, and set new ones.

If you apply this to yourself, ask “What will I do to improve my company, my team, and my leadership?”

This reframe brings that new start energy that is motivating, invigorating, and a little stressful all at once.

That stress can be normal. It can even be good. Just make space for you and your team to recharge so the stress doesn’t sit and build. A few ways to balance progress and calm:

• Set achievable goals. Make them tiny. The small steps all add up.

• Plan team-building activities, such as a team lunch or outing. Yes, work can be fun.

• Protect time for breaks. This is often when the best thinking happens.

NEW ADDITIONS

Fall is also when many organizations welcome new team members, including early-career talent who may be stepping into a workplace for the first time. We’re welcoming two new team members of our own this season (more on that below).

Here are the practices we recommend to help newcomers feel prepared and welcome:

• Be ready before the first day. Have onboarding materials prepared so they can be completed right away. Make sure your team knows someone new is joining. Send a welcome email outlining what the first day and first week will look like. Preparing early helps keep a new hire from feeling overwhelmed.

• Plan a well-timed orientation. Help new team members understand the environment and what’s expected of them without flooding them with information. Review the schedule, give a tour of the work space, make introductions and demonstrate tasks. Build in down time and breaks for your new team member to get acclimated.

• Encourage questions. New hires usually have plenty of questions, but asking can still be nerve-wracking. Inviting questions early makes it easier for them to keep asking.

• Host a team event. A lunch or outing helps break the ice and builds a comfortable, professional environment. It doesn’t have to happen right away, but an early team event can help a new hire feel at ease. We like starting with a one-on-one lunch with a peer, then a social event for the whole team within the first month. For virtual teams, we highly recommend a series of coffee chats with each team member in that same timeframe.

• Hold a daily wrap-up. Whether for the first day, the first week or longer, check in with the new employee at the end of the day. Ask how they’re feeling, what they need help with and whether they have questions. Recognize what went well and share what to expect next.

A first day is a new start for the new hire and for the team they join. We love the fresh perspectives and new energy they bring to everyone.

CLOSING OUT THE YEAR

The change in seasons is also a good time to plan how you’ll close out the year.

Look back on what’s been accomplished. What are you proud of as a leader? What has your organization achieved this year? What can you still accomplish before year-end?

Then check in with your team. How do they feel about the work they’ve done this year? What are they ready to take on before the year closes?

Reflecting now makes it easier to set goals for the new year. Resetting doesn’t have to happen only in January.

OUR NEW START FEELING

After all this talk of new starts, we have a few of our own to share.

We’ve been working with our partner RADAR Nonprofit Solutions for a few months and are supporting a national opera company in our work together. More to come on that, but we are having a blast and loving meaningful work for a great partner.

We also have some team changes. We’re saying farewell to Isabella R. as she starts a new role with the Recording Academy. Keegan M. and Olivia C. are taking on expanded responsibilities following her departure. And we’re welcoming two new team members: Isabel C., whom Sara, our founder, has worked with before and is contributing to our client in the public health space, and Nora L., who is helping Sara as an executive assistant, in addition to pursuing her acting career in New York.

We'd love to hear about your own new starts this fall. Share in the comments and tell us what you're resetting.

Happy fall, everyone. Here’s to a season of resets and new beginnings!

See the original post from September 30, 2026 here.