“I finally had time to breathe”: How Oxygen Helped One Manager Reset and Refocus
Manager Success Spotlight: Jose Barahona, WorkBetterNow
Overview
Jose Barahona joined the Oxygen Management Essentials program as part of WorkBetterNow’s commitment to growing strong managers across its rapidly scaling team. Like many fast-moving professionals, Jose had relied on instinct and experience, but lacked a consistent framework to manage, delegate, and communicate clearly.
Oxygen changed that. The cohort-based structure gave him the space to integrate new skills, the confidence to replace outdated habits, and the tools to lead more effectively, even in projects where he wasn’t formally managing others. Jose’s story shows what’s possible when companies treat manager development not as a perk, but as a business-critical investment.
Key Takeaways
Oxygen gave Jose the breathing room to pause, reflect, and grow as a leader
He now uses delegation and accountability frameworks in all his project work
The program reshaped his ability to manage up, prioritize, and set expectations
Jose’s confidence and communication style have strengthened significantly
WorkBetterNow’s investment in Oxygen has helped scale leadership with structure and clarity
How WBN and Oxygen Created the Breathing Room Jose Needed to Grow
Jose had been through other management trainings before—but none of them gave him space to apply what he learned.
“I’d finish the course, go back to work, and I couldn’t apply anything. I was already behind, already overwhelmed.”
When he joined Oxygen, that changed.
“What I loved about Oxygen was that I had time to breathe. Every two weeks, I could absorb the material, think about it, and actually try it. That helped a lot.”
This breathing room made a lasting impact. Instead of layering new tools on top of an overloaded system, Jose rebuilt his entire management style from the ground up.
“I’ve had coaching and management trainings before, but I just love the way Oxygen put everything together. I’m replacing all the systems I had before and using Oxygen from now on.”
From Intuition to Intention
Like many fast-rising professionals, Jose led with good intentions—but not always with clarity or consistency.
“I had the right intentions, but I wasn’t doing things fully. Or I wasn’t phrasing them the right way. Oxygen helped me see why certain things weren’t working.”
Oxygen gave him a structure to operate with more clarity, including practical frameworks for delegation, communication, and accountability.
“Now when I delegate, I follow a clear structure. I set expectations, give context, and I know what to track. That clarity helps both me and the person I’m working with.”
Useful Beyond People Management
Although Jose is not currently leading a team, he still uses the tools every day.
“You don’t have to be a people manager to benefit. I use what I learned in every project I’m on—especially around communication, accountability, and expectations.”
From coordinating cross-functional work to supporting company-wide initiatives, Jose now approaches each project with greater confidence, structure, and intention.
“This experience changed how I work, how I communicate, and how I lead. I feel more confident and more aligned with the kind of leader I want to be.”
A Culture That Invests in Its People
Jose’s story reflects a broader commitment from WorkBetterNow to build leadership capacity with structure and care. CEO Andrew Cohen saw early that fast growth alone wasn’t enough.
“Managers are trained. Leaders may be born—but even they need tools. You can’t scale a business on talent alone. You need systems. You need Oxygen.”
— Andrew Cohen, CEO, WorkBetterNow
That investment helped Jose feel both valued and supported—and raised his expectations for what leadership development should look like.
“If I ever go to a new company, one of my first questions will be, ‘How are you going to invest in my growth?’ Because I know now what a difference it makes.”
Ready to empower your managers?
→ Explore the Management Essentials program
→ Join our next cohort starting September 25
