If You're Curious About These Questions...
You should listen to this audiobook
- Have you ever wondered why our brains treat being the 'new person' as a survival threat, and how you can flip that switch to feel instant comfort?
- What if you could walk into any new job or social circle with a proven strategy to bypass awkwardness and build immediate confidence?
- What’s the secret to mastering the art of the 'new' so you can stop dreading unfamiliar situations and start thriving in them?
Listen to What to Do When You’re New — Free Audiobook
Loading player...
Key Takeaways from What to Do When You’re New
- Discover why your anxiety in new situations is actually a perfectly normal evolutionary response to the unknown, rather than a personal flaw.
- Learn how to abandon rigid social scripts and adopt a 'coach', 'gamer', or 'beginner' mindset to transform intimidating encounters into fun learning opportunities.
- Master the art of the proactive introduction by using a simple strategy to state your name, establish context, and clearly acknowledge why you should know each other.
- Find out how writing down personal details immediately after meeting someone can help you avoid awkwardness and build the foundation for a strong relationship.
- Understand the biological barriers that make remembering names difficult and learn practical strategies to overcome context-dependent memory lapses to make a lasting impression.
Learning Tools
Reinforce what you learned from What to Do When You’re New
Mind Map
What to Do When You’re New
Evolutionary Roots of Anxiety
Fear of the Unknown
Fear of Exclusion
The Paradox
Adopting the Right Mindsets
Ditch the Script
Coach Mindset
Gamer Mindset
Beginner's Mindset
Mastering Introductions
Take the Initiative
The Strategy
Follow Up
Record Details
Remembering Names
Biological Limits
Context-Dependent Recall
Visualization Hacks
Verbal Reinforcement
Asking Questions Effectively
Overcome Irrational Fear
I Want to Learn Mindset
Keep It Simple
Play the Newbie Card
Building Positive Relationships
Avoid Misinterpretations
Give Energy
Listen Actively
Stay Positive
Reciprocal Altruism
Performing Without Fear
Reject Fixed Talent
Embrace Getting-Better
Show Humility
Keep Perspective
Forgive First Attempts
Quiz — Test Your Understanding
Question 1 of 8
According to the book, what is the primary reason we naturally feel anxious in new situations?
What to Do When You’re New — Full Chapter Overview
Chapter 1: Recommendation
Chapter 2: Biological and cultural evolution often prime us to feel alert and anxious in new situations.
Chapter 3: Getting comfortable in new situations demands a shift in mindset.
Chapter 4: As a newcomer, the first skill to master is to introduce yourself properly and successfully.
Chapter 5: Practice remembering names to show respect, to flatter others, and to make a strong impression.
Chapter 6: Become comfortable faster by overcoming your fear of asking questions.
Chapter 7: Don’t let fear get in your way today; stay positive and focus on giving energy.
Chapter 8: Discover how to rid yourself of the anxiety of performing in front of strangers.
What to Do When You’re New Summary & Overview
What to Do When You’re New (2015) is the result of Rollag’s 20 years of research on why people become anxious and stressed in new situations. It provides strategies for changing your outlook on new situations and offers techniques for handling such situations with comfort and confidence.
Who Should Listen to What to Do When You’re New?
- Those who get anxious in unfamiliar situations
- Employees new on the job
- Students transferring to a new school
Books Similar to What to Do When You’re New
Readers who enjoyed this also liked these titles.
What to Do When You Become the Boss
★ 5.0 / 5 • 2 ratingsHow New Managers Become Successful Managers
Quick Confidence
★ 4.0 / 5 • 68 ratingsBe Authentic, Boost Connections, and Make Bold Bets on Yourself
The Discomfort Zone
★ 4.4 / 5 • 225 ratingsHow to Get What You Want by Living Fearlessly
Perfectly Confident
★ 4.1 / 5 • 899 ratingsHow to Calibrate Your Decisions Wisely