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Office Politics, Unpacked | with Kris Verlé
'Office politics' carries an unfair reputation. Most professionals treat it as something they should rise above rather than something they should be getting good at.
The irony is that those who understand it well have an almost unfair advantage over those who don't.
Closing that gap is what this podcast is about.
Each episode covers topics such as building influence, managing your visibility, positioning yourself, and communicating with authority.
You can expect practical advice aimed specifically at senior managers and directors who want to get better at navigating organisational dynamics on their own terms.
Host Kris Verlé spent fifteen years as a professional political advisor and lobbyist before becoming an executive coach more than a decade ago and founding Altitude Shift Coaching.
New episodes every month. Find out more about Kris' executive coaching at https://altitude-shift.com or get in touch at kris@altitude-shift.com
New episodes every month. Find out more at https://altitude-shift.com or get in touch at kris@altitude-shift.com
Office Politics, Unpacked | with Kris Verlé
How To Stay Functional At Work During A Personal Crisis
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What do you do when your personal life is in crisis, but you're still expected to lead, show up, and get things done at work?
In this episode of Altitude Shift, I explore how to stay steady, clear-headed, and functional when you're dealing with grief, illness, heartbreak, or any personal crisis that spills into your professional life.
You’ll learn:
- What happens in your brain during a personal crisis (and why focus feels impossible)
- How to protect your energy, presence, and emotional authority at work
- Practical strategies for founders, freelancers, and leaders under pressure
- What to do when someone else on your team is quietly struggling
If you’re trying to hold it together on Zoom while quietly falling apart inside, this episode is for you.
And if you’re not in crisis right now, listen anyway. Because life has a way of showing up uninvited.
00:00 Intro
02:25 What a personal crisis does to your brain
04:52 Before you re-enter
07:02 How to stay functional at work
07:16 Control the flow of information
09:04 Redefine performance
10:46 Build containment and recovery systems
12:48 Ask for specific, contained support
14:05. Re-enter gradually
15:40 Supporting someone else through a crisis
17:52: Don’t let a crisis go to waste