Kris Verlé - Altitude Shift Coaching

Kris Verlé
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A podcast for founders and professionals who want to show up with more clarity, emotional steadiness, and authority at work. Executive coach Kris Verlé shares sharp insights and practical tools to help you lead through complexity without losing your humanity.  Find me on https://altitude-shift.com Or email me via kris@altitude-shift.com

Episodes

  1. JAN 29

    Imposter Syndrome In Meetings, What To Do Before, During and After

    Imposter syndrome in meetings is usually a threat response rather than a reflection on your talents.  In this short episode, I share a practical protocol you can use before, during, and after any high-stakes meeting so you stop going quiet, over-explaining, or replaying the whole thing for hours afterwards.  You'll learn:  A 90-second prep, where you decide on your function, and at least one contributionWhat when you're in the meeting to label your thoughts and focus your attention outward againWhat to do after the meeting to make sense of what happenedThis is a great episode for anyone who wants to show up with greater executive presence and authority in meetings.

    12 min

  2. 11/28/2025

    Stop Rambling At Work: How To Speak Clearly And Sound More Senior

    If you ramble at work or talk yourself into a circle when you’re under pressure, this episode will help.  You’ll learn why people stop listening when you overshare, how rambling quietly harms your professional reputation, and the simple tools that make you sound clearer, steadier, and more senior.  If you want people to take you seriously and pay attention when you speak, start here.  01:33 - Why we ramble 03:24 - How to tell you're rambling 04:54 - Why rambling is so bad for your career 07:03 - The antidote: good storytelling 11.41 - How to speak with real authority

    13 min

  3. 10/30/2025

    How To Get Better At Small Talk (Without Feeling Fake)

    Hate small talk? You’re not alone.  But when done right, it’s one of the quickest ways to build trust, warmth, and credibility at work.  In this episode, I break down the psychology of small talk, what it really is, why it matters more than you think, and how to make it feel natural instead of forced.  Learn how to steady your nerves, read the room, and connect with people in a way that feels confident, human, and real.   00:00 – love it or hate it 01:26 –  What small talk really is 03:28 – How to ground yourself before engaging in small talk 05:05 – When small talk goes wrong * Overthinking it  * Not reading the room * Going on for too long * Trying to be too professional  11:08  – The importance of courage

    13 min

  4. 09/29/2025

    Strategic Networking: How To Build Meaningful Relationships At Work

    Hate networking? You’re not alone.  In this episode of Altitude Shift, I break down why most professionals get networking wrong and how to reframe it into authentic relationship-building.  You'll learn the five strategic principles to grow visibility and access, overcome the fear of rejection, and connect with senior leaders without feeling slimy or transactional. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:37 Psychological roadblocks 04:03 Five strategic principles 08:39 Visibility vs access 10:57 How to approach senior leaders 13:55 People smell intent

    17 min

  5. 08/28/2025

    Straightforwardness: How to Be Direct Without Being Mean

    Most of us struggle with balance in tough conversations. Either we soften our words so much that the message becomes lost, or we come across as blunt and leave people feeling hurt.  Radical Candour, a framework made famous by Kim Scott, offers a better path: being clear and direct while still showing you care.  In this episode, I’ll unpack why straightforwardness is such a critical (and often ignored) leadership skill. I’ll look at the Radical Candour model, explore why most of us get stuck in “ruinous empathy,” and share practical ways to speak up with courage, self-control, and respect.  If you want to give feedback without being mean, strengthen trust, and build the kind of authority people actually want to follow, this episode is for you.

    16 min

  6. 07/31/2025

    How To Stay Functional At Work During A Personal Crisis

    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 workPractical strategies for founders, freelancers, and leaders under pressureWhat to do when someone else on your team is quietly strugglingIf 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

    21 min

  7. 06/30/2025

    Why People-Pleasing Is Holding You Back at Work

    Do you often find yourself keeping the peace at work by keeping quiet? Saying yes when you’re already overloaded? Feeling responsible for how everyone else feels?  In this episode, I unpack the psychology behind people-pleasing, why it drains your influence and energy, and how to start interrupting the habit, but without turning into a boundary robot. This is real talk for recovering good guys (and gals) who want to lead with clarity, steadiness, and presence.  00:00: Are you a pleaser?  01:42:   Pleasing doesn't equal kindness 03:35: The 4th stress response: fawning 04:58: Where did this all start? 06:55 What pleasing is costing you 07:51: How to spot when you're pleasing 10:07: How to interrupt the pattern 12:15: 5 ways to switch off your pleasing auto-pilot 15:58: Conclusion: the shift that changes everything

    19 min
  8. How To Handle Emotional Triggers At Work Without Losing Your Cool

    05/30/2025

    How To Handle Emotional Triggers At Work Without Losing Your Cool

    Why do some things at work hit harder than they should? A comment, a tone, a missed cue — and suddenly, you’re overreacting, spiralling, or shutting down. In this episode of Altitude Shift, executive coach Kris Verle unpacks what’s really happening when you feel triggered at work — and why your reactions can feel so outsized. We talk about what’s going on in your brain, what old emotional patterns might be getting stirred, and how to stay calm when someone pushes your buttons (or picks the scab of an old wound). You’ll walk away with science-backed strategies to stay composed in heated moments, communicate without blame, and lead with more emotional authority — even when the heat is rising around you. 00:00 - We all get triggered 01:40 - What happens inside the brain 06:21 - Rapid reset and regulate yourself first 11:41 - Should I say something in the moment?  14:01 - What if you’re the trigger? 17:44 - What you do next matters

    18 min
  9. When You Mess Up At Work: How To Rebuild Credibility And Trust

    04/30/2025

    When You Mess Up At Work: How To Rebuild Credibility And Trust

    Made a bad call at work? This episode unpacks how to recover from professional missteps that quietly damage your credibility, and how to rebuild trust without spinning into shame or overexplanation. Learn how to steady yourself, take ownership, and move on with more confidence. 03:00 - What your brain does when you slip 05:02 - Step 1: Reframing 07:19 - Step 2: Who else needs to hear from you 09:04 - Step 3: Re-establishing your presence 11:52 - Step 4: Builing self-trust again 16:40 - Conclusion: silver linings

    19 min
  10. How To Stop Ruminating At Work (And Break The Overthinking Loop)

    03/31/2025

    How To Stop Ruminating At Work (And Break The Overthinking Loop)

    Ever delivered great work and got... nothing? Or received vague feedback that stuck in your head for days? In this episode, I explore why rumination occurs, especially in high-achievers, and how it differs from everyday overthinking. You’ll get practical ways to break the loop, regain focus again at work, and get out of your own head. 00:00 – Disappointment kills careers faster than failure 01:25 – The Fire Phone flop (and what it teaches us) 03:00 – Why disappointment hurts so much 05.46 – How to prevent disappointment in the first place 08:53 – What to do if you're already feeling disappointed 10:14 – Rumination: the gift that keeps giving 12:14 – Four brain resets to recover from disappointment 15:55 – Conclusion

    20 min
  11. Imposter Syndrome At Work: Why You Feel Like A Fraud (And What To Do About It)

    02/28/2025

    Imposter Syndrome At Work: Why You Feel Like A Fraud (And What To Do About It)

    Ever feel like you’re not as competent as people think you are — and it’s only a matter of time before they find out? You’re not alone. Imposter syndrome affects even the most experienced professionals, especially high achievers in leadership roles. In this episode, I explore why imposter syndrome happens, why it’s more common than you think, and how success can actually make those feelings worse. We’ll also look at: Why high performers are most at riskThe “comparison trap” in ambitious workplacesPractical mindset shifts to manage self-doubtIf this resonates, hit follow or share it with someone who also needs to hear it.

    18 min
  • 11 Episodes

About

A podcast for founders and professionals who want to show up with more clarity, emotional steadiness, and authority at work. Executive coach Kris Verlé shares sharp insights and practical tools to help you lead through complexity without losing your humanity.  Find me on https://altitude-shift.com Or email me via kris@altitude-shift.com

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