New to L&D? Kanishka shares a three-phase rhythm (listen, learn, lead) to help L&D professionals start strong and avoid burning out. Adapted from the book A Simple Methodology for Life, this 90-day approach builds confidence, credibility and calm through small, purposeful actions and reflection at each stage of the journey.

Stepping into a new learning and development role is exhilarating, and overwhelming. New trainers, facilitators, or instructional designers often rush to ‘prove value,’ only to find themselves firefighting rather than learning.

You need a steady, confidence-building start

In my book A Simple Methodology for Life: From Student to Professional to Life Commitments, I outline a simple rhythm for starting strong: Listen → Learn → Lead. Originally designed for graduates entering the workplace, it applies beautifully to anyone joining the L&D profession if you need a steady, confidence-building start, and this article is adapted from the book.

1) Listen (first 30 days)

Golden rule: Active listening creates alignment before action.

Spend your first month observing before intervening. Every L&D environment has its own unwritten language: how success is defined, how learners respond, how influence flows.

• Meet with purpose: Ask stakeholders what ‘great learning’ looks like to them
  
  
• Notice rituals: Which meetings matter most? What content formats get traction?
  
  
• Create a listening map: A single sheet noting who to meet, what to ask, and patterns you’re hearing

You can turn ambiguity into focus by making pressure predictable; listening first reduces the cognitive load later.

2) Learn (days 31–60)

Once you understand the terrain, begin targeted learning.

• Skill audit: Identify three things you must master. This may be a new LMS, storyboarding, or data analytics
  
  
• Shadow and debrief: Observe a skilled colleague and do a ‘Friday 10 Review’ – ten minutes to jot what worked, what didn’t, and one next step
  
  
• Build a one-page learning plan: Three goals, three mentors, three milestones

This second phase shifts you from observation to capability, without slipping into chaos.

3) Lead (days 61–90)

Only after listening and learning do you lead.

Success at work comes from clarity, consistency, and small actions repeated with purpose, the same habits that build trust and credibility in any L&D role. For new L&D professionals, this might mean piloting a short learning burst, improving the feedback process, or running a workshop.

• Start small: Show initiative through value-adding experiments, not grand gestures
  
  
• Seek feedback: Use short ‘STAR’ reflections (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to capture proof points
  
  
• Celebrate consistency: Reliability builds credibility faster than reinvention

Reflection and reset

At the 90-day mark, ask yourself:

• What did I hear?
  
  
• What did I learn?
  
  
• Where did I lead?

That cycle of listen, learn, lead can repeat indefinitely, fuelling both confidence and calm.

Practical take-away

Phase	Focus	Outcome
Listen	Stakeholder insights	Listening map
Learn	Targeted growth	One-page learning plan
Lead	Credible contribution	STAR stories and reflection

Golden rule: Listen first, lead small, learn always.

If you are new to L&D or taking a role in a new team or organisation, slow down to speed up. Treat your first 90 days as a simple rhythm: understand the system, build capability, then make focused contributions. Start by mapping who matters, how decisions and learning really happen, and what success looks like. Next, choose a small set of skills to sharpen, shadow a pro, and keep a one-page plan.

Then lead with low-risk pilots that solve a real problem, gather quick evidence using STAR notes, and be reliably consistent rather than grand. Finish with a short review of what you heard, learned and led, then repeat the cycle to compound trust and results.

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Kanishka is author of A Simple Methodology for Life: From Student to Professional to Life Commitments