How to succeed in a new role
You’re feeling over the moon as you have landed the role you’ve always wanted. All that effort in perfecting your CV and presenting the best of yourself at rounds of interviews has paid off.
You’re excited about the endless possibilities but also feeling some butterflies in your stomach, or anxiety about this new chapter. You’ll be thinking ‘can I live up to the promises I made at interview?’ Imposter syndrome may be high!
But….the hard work is only starting! It’s now important to put as much effort into setting yourself up for success in your new role as it is in getting it. My advice is to think of it as a marathon, not a sprint.
Properly adjusting to a new job can take anywhere from three to six months. It’s ok to give yourself permission to set yourself up for success with a well-defined plan. Your plan should focus on diagnosing the situation, learning and connecting with people, defining your plan and then delivering on it.
Michael D Watkins, the renowned Author and Professor of Leadership and Organisational Change at the International Institute for Management Development, talks about the common pitfalls people can fall into when starting a new job.
In the recent edition of his book, The First 90 Days, he highlights 4 Transition Traps that we can fall into:
1. Sticking with what you know – doing the same things you did in previous roles. In reality we all need to embrace new possibilities and new imperatives
2. Action Imperative – the pressure you feel early on, to take action and show people they made the right decision in hiring of promoting you
3. Not focussing on learning the right things – focusing too much on the technical learning and not enough on the politics and culture of the organisation
4. Neglecting cross-functional relationships – spending time with people other than your manager helps build up your support network.
Here are some strategies and tips, spread over your first 30, 60 and 90 days, that should help you adapt fast and make an impact quickly, so that you can start your new role with clarity and confidence.
Before you start
How you start a job has a huge impact on how things go long-term. These days it’s the first 90 minutes or even 90 seconds where the first impact is made! There are lots of things you can do for yourself to set you up for future success.
1. Do your research
It’s worthwhile going back over your notes about the company or carrying out more up to date research. If the hiring manager didn’t provide you with a first-day checklist, reach out a few days before you start and ask if there’s anything they’d like you to bring or prepare.
2. Equipment and Test Runs
Have you been set up with equipment, passwords etc? If not, reach out to your Manager the week before to see if there’s anything you can do to help get sorted. The last thing you want is to spend your first week without access to systems or technology.
If you’ll be working on-site, test your commute. If you’ll be working from home, test your internet connection, computer, software, and other equipment you’ll need. Knowing that everything works smoothly can help you relax for the big day.
30 day plan - Listen
1. Get to know people
Introduce yourself virtually or face to face to your team mates. Ask your Manager to send an email or slack message to your team and key stakeholders announcing that you’ve joined the team.
2. Ask lots of questions
You will only have a short honeymoon period with permission to ask the ‘stupid questions’! Start a new notebook and write everything down.
3. Meet your Leader and define what success looks like
Be intentional about your early conversations with your leader. They’re going to have a huge impact on your career, so start building your relationship now. Ask for clarity on what’s expected of you and key areas of focus.
4. Listen as much as you talk
Take in as much information as possible before you start airing your own opinions. Especially important if you’re stepping into a leadership position.
60 day plan – Learn
1. Be an Apprentice
Use these early days to learn a lot. Set up a Learning Plan for yourself to cover people, projects and process.
2. Quick Wins
Identify 1 – 2 situations that would benefit from your strengths and put yourself forward to be part of them.
3. Keep an open mindset
As you learn more about your new workplace, keep a balanced perspective and welcome the viewpoints of others—especially people who have been there longer than you have.
4. Spot your Supporters
Assess who has influence and is likely to support you. Observe potential opponents and adapt your approach to pre-empt any problems.
90 day plan - Deliver
1. Ask for feedback
Make feedback a regular rhythm. Don’t wait for your six-month or annual review. Ask your leader, team members and stakeholders for their feedback.
2. Set out your stall
Having observed, learned and listened a lot, now is the time to start delivering. Set out your vision for the role, your goals and key milestones.
3. Set boundaries
You may have spent the early months compromising on some of your boundaries. Now you should begin to re-establish those boundaries that enable you to do your best work. While you should continue to be a team player, learning to say “no” will help you focus on your goals and manage time effectively.
I’ll finish with a quote from Michael D Watkins:
“Look forward and work backwards”
To feel nervous before your start date is completely normal. Just remember that if the company didn’t wholeheartedly believe you were the right person, they wouldn’t have chosen you. Armed with these tips, you can prove that their decision was correct and enjoy huge job satisfaction being in a role that plays to your strengths.
Reach out if I can be of help on your career journey
