How to Succeed in a New Role

Starting a new job or moving into a new position can be both exciting and a little nerve-wracking as well. The best way to ensure you perform your best during this time is to have a well-thought-out game plan. Preparing yourself for success in a new role requires strategic effort and planning. Getting the position or promotion was just the start; now is not the time to sit back on cruise control. Instead, employees should keep the momentum going. While organizations understand that you are onboarding and learning a new role, they are still watching your performance. Making a strong positive impression at the beginning will create a lasting impact that will benefit your career in the future. To ensure success in a new role, employees should focus on the following: (1) getting a better understanding of the new position, (2) building your network, and (3) securing early victories.

Get an Understanding

The first step any employee should take in a new role is to get clarification on how they can make an impact in that position. Doing so involves more than just reviewing the responsibilities and duties of the job description; you should already understand that information before accepting the job. At this point, your focus should be on gaining alignment on what tasks and assignments will help you succeed in your role. How can you add value to the department and organization in this role? What are the potholes you need to avoid? What does the unspoken power structure look like? Obtaining this information does not mean you must conform to the current norms. However, it means you take the time to get the lay of the land before jumping in headfirst and making radical changes. What are the expectations of your boss? What is a priority, and what is not? Asking these questions and getting this understanding will increase your chances of success by thinking and performing strategically.

Build Your Network

The next step is creating alliances to help you in your new role. As a newcomer to your position, you must cultivate a network of people within the organization. Connect with these people and make sure they become familiar with you, your work, and your background. People you speak to on the elevator or in the hallway are not considered part of your network. Instead, build your alliances by sitting in someone’s office and conversing with them for more than five minutes. Another way to add to your network is to have coffee or lunch with co-workers or leaders. This will help you build meaningful connections while you learn about them and vice versa. The results will be a pool of people you can contact as you begin to progress in your new role. You may need to call on them in the future, and likewise, they may call on you for partnership opportunities.

Secure Early Victories

The final step is to make sure you get some quick wins under your belt. Here, your focus should not be on achieving risky, audacious goals. Big or stretch goals are fine if you want to show your boss you are a go-getter. However, the critical thing to accomplish in the first few months is to show your boss that you can deliver results. Employees who focus on only achieving one big goal early on may be setting themselves up for failure. They may be missing out on great networking opportunities or the chance to show consistency in their work. Leaders would rather see an employee consistently perform in a new role than a one-and-done employee. That is why getting an understanding and building a network are so essential. They help you identify and prepare for early victories. Keep in mind that quick wins do not mean looking for minor or trivial tasks; it means looking for wins that you can accomplish in a short amount of time. These wins should still be significant and contribute to your growth and the department’s overall success.