You're starting a new job in business operations. How can you make sure you're set up for success?

1 Understand your goals

The first step to setting yourself up for success is to clarify your expectations and objectives. What are the main responsibilities and deliverables of your role? How will your performance be measured and evaluated? What are the short-term and long-term goals of your team and the organization? How do they align with your personal and professional development? Seek feedback from your manager, peers, and stakeholders regularly and adjust your actions accordingly.

2 Learn the tools and systems

Business operations relies heavily on various tools and systems to automate, streamline, and enhance the workflows and outputs of different functions. Depending on your specific role, you might need to use software for project management, data analysis, customer relationship management, accounting, inventory, or communication. Familiarize yourself with the tools and systems that are relevant to your tasks and learn how to use them effectively. If you encounter any issues or gaps, don't hesitate to ask for help or suggest improvements.

3 Build your network

One of the key skills for business operations is collaboration. You'll need to work with people from different departments, levels, and backgrounds to coordinate and execute various projects and initiatives. To do this well, you need to build your network and establish trust and rapport with your colleagues and partners. Reach out to them, introduce yourself, and learn about their roles and challenges. Offer your support, share your insights, and seek their feedback. Be respectful, responsive, and proactive in your communication.

4 Keep learning and growing

Business operations is a constantly evolving field that requires you to keep up with the latest trends, best practices, and innovations. You'll also face new challenges, opportunities, and changes that will test your skills and knowledge. To thrive in this environment, you need to keep learning and growing. Seek out new experiences, take on new projects, and embrace feedback. Find mentors, coaches, or peers who can guide you, challenge you, and inspire you. Invest in your professional development by taking courses, attending webinars, reading books, or joining communities.

5 Be flexible and adaptable

Finally, one of the most important traits for business operations is flexibility and adaptability. You'll often have to deal with uncertainty, ambiguity, and complexity in your work. You'll also have to balance competing priorities, deadlines, and expectations. To cope with these situations, you need to be flexible and adaptable. Be open to new ideas, perspectives, and solutions. Be willing to experiment, iterate, and pivot. Be ready to adjust your plans, strategies, and goals as needed.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?