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beginning a new job: demonstrating your value, part 3

August 31, 2015 by

You were hired to produce results. As basic as that sounds, achieving results early in a new job can be a challenge. You may be entering a role that is familiar. Or perhaps, you are moving up to one of greater responsibility and authority, either within your organization or elsewhere.

This new role is one you sought out and thought about for a long time. Now that it’s yours, how will you demonstrate your value to your employer? You seek to be recognized for the good work you do. In order to insure success, here are some principles to keep in mind.

You aren’t in Kansas anymore. What worked in previous environments may or may not work here. To enter a new organization with a pre-conceived solution may set you up for failure. You can bring your previous skills, knowledge, values, and experience, but a solution is developed over time.

Often you lack extensive time to prove yourself. Michael D. Watkins talks of the “break even point, the time when you contribute as much value to the organization as you consume”. To create that value it helps to establish a 90 day work plan which includes priorities, goals, strategies, and deadlines. This is accomplished in collaboration with your supervisor and team. Regular feedback on your progress will keep you on track to become successful.

Maria recently was promoted to head the department where she has worked for 10 years. Maria holds many ideas of improvements that can benefit her former peers as well as streamline results. She is an expert in her previous role and respected in the company. However, Maria has never directed a unit nor partnered with management.

Maria’s 90 day plan needs to include her personal learning objectives as well as early wins that matter to the organization. Maria and her supervisor need to establish realistic expectations for her first 90 days. Maria will accelerate her transition by focusing on the company’s stated priorities versus her preferred ideas for change.

As time goes by, Maria realizes the view from the Manager’s office is different than where she stood before. She now has more information: input from other units, contact with clients, and competitors. Maria feels more invested in the organization’s success. While she hasn’t lost her former perspective, Maria is building on it to function effectively in her new position. She finds this both exciting and challenging.

While theses first 90 days in a new job are filled with learning, growing, producing, and building new relationships, they can be exhausting. The self care you were able to manifest before the transition helps some, but this care needs to continue in order to fuel your development.

How many times have you begun a new job only to say later, “What have I gotten myself into?” The pressure and uncertainty can become overwhelming. Therefore, another “must do” is creating a unique self care plan.

“We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. And we’ll also have a lot more joy in living.”

Thich Nhat Hahn

Stress is a huge factor in our work lives and even more during transitions. Having a plan to combat stress includes exercise, eating whole foods, adopting a support network, and having an outlet for fun. Pick an activity that brings you healthy joy with people you trust and care about. Some possibilities are: a hiking club, dancing, painting, or acting. We all require an outlet and social interaction outside of work to relieve pressure.

Maria is now three months into her new position. It’s been a tremendous learning experience and she’s fortunate to have a supportive boss as her mentor. People want Maria to succeed. Her perspective of “new eyes” is bringing innovative strategies to increase the company’s bottom line. There’s more growth to come, but Maria is off to a promising beginning.

Establish your 90 day plan:

Align it with the organization’s priorities
Develop necessary skills
Demonstrate early wins
Evaluate your progress
Practice self care

Enjoy your transition and see you on the path!

Filed Under: Career Transitions Tagged With: , , ,

beginning a new job: alliances & credibility, part 2

July 31, 2015 by

Many people hire a Coach to help them determine what kind of career to pursue and to obtain employment in that field. But what might be just as important is having a Coach or peer support when you start the new position. This time is critical for maintaining the job, adjusting to the culture, building credibility, developing new skills, and feeling successful.

And yet people often start a new job alone with no assistance. A call for help happens later when a crisis occurs or when enthusiasm evaporates. But what if you had gotten off to a better start?

What constitutes a successful beginning? Think about examples of your great career starts. Or so-so or horrible ones. What were the defining features of each? It’s easy to blame a poor fit, a terrible boss, lazy co-workers or a declining industry. But what if you take responsibility for the outcome?

Negotiating well the transition to a new job provides you with confidence, skills, and self understanding. Maybe in time you discover this career path doesn’t bring you enduring satisfaction. But you can leave knowing you did your best to bring value to the organization and to grow your skills.

Let’s look at some tools for getting a good start. Michael D. Watkins in his book “The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter” identifies 10 action steps to ensure a great transition. We’ll explore creating early relationships and building your reputation.

Entering a new job or even taking a promotion at your current employment can be similar to the first day of school. You don’t know what to expect, you feel alone, and you wonder if you’re up to the challenges. That anxiety can be used to energize you for the work ahead. Being in top shape can make the first weeks more manageable. Entering with a curious, positive mind opens you up for learning and growth.

“Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore”
L. Frank Baumen

Bill has a new position with a company he has respected for years. He can’t believe his good fortune in having this opportunity. He negotiated a start date that allows him to take two weeks off to rest, relax, and prepare between jobs. He will use that time to recharge, mentally let go of his previous responsibilities, and to do further research on his new company. Bill will enter his position clear headed and eager for work.

Even before you begin a new job you are building your reputation through your resume, your interviews, and your interactions with human resources. Once you enter the door on your first day, all eyes will be on you. How you handle yourself and your early communications can seriously impact your success on the job.

Being able to demonstrate confidence, curiosity, and clarity will go a long way toward leaving a positive impression. Take time to meet everyone from administrative staff to executives. Show an interest in them and their roles. Be approachable. You can be the listener in this phase. You don’t need to prove yourself yet or offer an opinion.

While you are getting introduced, you can begin identifying the people who will be crucial to your success. They may be peers, or superiors, or specialists. It’s important to determine who will become your teachers, allies, and fans. Other staff can work with you or sabotage your results. So it’s important to build trusting relationships and distinguish where the power and influence lie.

In the initial days of a new position, you are a learner. You may have been hired to do an existing job, take on a brand new role, or to make organizational changes. While there are expectations that you produce results, take some time to secure the information and relationships needed to implement wise decisions. You may feel overwhelmed and in a foreign land. This, in fact, is a new culture to navigate. It does get better, but true comfort many not come for months.

“The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.”
Steve Jobs

Continue to take care of yourself. Next month we will look at following through on expectations.

Have a beginner’s mind:

Prepare well for the first days
Communicate an attitude of learning
Express your enthusiasm
Find your tribe
Make sense of the culture

Relish your opportunity and see you on the path!

Filed Under: Career Transitions Tagged With: , ,

beginning a new job: visions & goals, part 1

June 30, 2015 by

So you got the job. Congratulations! Now what? How do you prepare for the new environment and responsibilities? You may think that all the hard work is over once you accept a new job offer. You’re partially correct. You probably survived a difficult process of identifying opportunities, submitting applications, interviewing, and negotiating your benefits.

It’s time to appreciate your efforts and success and take a breath. Celebrate. But, there’s more work ahead to become ready for that first day and first six months.

Thinking about these changes before you begin a career transition is wise. You don’t have to wait until you secure a new position. You can plan while you are in a job search and even before. If you prepare now, you’ll have more space to acknowledge, relax, even vacation between transitions.

The reasons people change jobs vary tremendously. Knowing your reasons or what adjustment you seek is essential. There could be too much of something in your current job. Like too much micro management or bureaucracy, or too many administrative tasks. Or there could be too few growth opportunities or leadership roles or a chance to mentor others.

Creating an expanded career vision along with goals for your new position ensures getting more of what you want. Image how you want your ideal day/week to be. What skills do you want to use and develop? What role do you want to play in an organization? What do you want to produce, create, or improve? What mark do you want to leave? All of these answers are revealed on the job as you grow. But starting with a vision of what you value and seek allows you to be proactive and aware.

“Build your own dreams or someone will hire you to build theirs”
Farrah Gray

Lynda is starting a new job in two weeks. She will remain in the same field, but will gain more managerial responsibility and have program development duties. She’s excited and somewhat exhausted finishing out her old job and preparing for this one. She has an initial idea of the company’s mission and the role she will play, but figures she will learn more once she arrives.

Is Lynda as prepared as she can be? What is her game plan to hit the ground running? What actions does she need to take?

Often before we can look ahead and be ready for a career change, we must say goodbye to the past. Giving yourself time to grieve the relationships, roles, and parts of the old job you loved will prepare you for the future.

Since transition time between jobs is often scarce, it will benefit you to think about these things in advance. Immediately or as soon as you decide to make a career transition, you can start envisioning and letting go. It may sound premature, but trust me, you won’t have enough time to process during the weeks of wrapping things up and getting ready for the new.

One valuable guide for starting a new job is the book, “The First 90 Days, Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter” by Michael D. Watkins. Watkins outlines the steps and tools to help you get off to a successful start. A start that will ensure you will bring value to the organization. These tools can be sharpened as you make many transitions on your career path.

Workers aren’t staying 10-30 years with the same company as in the past. You will be moving around, which necessitates rapid adjustments. Imagine if you could begin each new chapter refreshed and focused on the fusion of your goals and those of the organization leading to a mutually beneficial outcome.

In next month’s blog we will examine some of Watkins’ guiding principles, such as building early relationships and alliances and planning timely wins or accomplishments to demonstrate your usefulness.

Prepare now for your next career transition:

Develop your career wish list
Constantly revise it
Create your professional growth plan
Identify environments where you thrive
Determine your unique purpose in working

Start your homework and see you for Part 2!

Filed Under: Career Transitions, Self Knowledge Tagged With: , , ,