5 Simple Rules for Success in a New Job

What am I doing here?  Why did I ever think that leaving my previous team was such a good idea? The grass is not greener here, it is just different...  Or is it?

Many of you have faced this self-doubt, especially after leaving a good company and a good team with the intention to explore a new culture, new technology, and make new connections.  I vividly remember feeling like this back in 2005 after leaving IBM to join Microsoft and then again in 2014 after leaving Microsoft to join Bloomberg.  This second time however it did not last long and it was much easier to cope with.  This was partly due to Bloomberg itself and the support I received here but also partly due to the approach I chose to follow.  The wise words of my 1st manager at Microsoft, John Ludeman, still rang in my head, "You are a senior hire, do not feel constrained by your title or your assignment.  Chart your own path, network, and find ways to show your value."

John was absolutely right!  What you are feeling at your new job is normal.  Do not forget that you left your last team for a reason.  It may be to learn new skills, find new challenges, or work on something you now feel very passionate about.  Change is never easy but with time, it can be very rewarding!

Here are five techniques I followed to help ease the transition:

1- Network, network, network!  Setup meetings with peers and leaders in your as well as other organizations.  It is never too early to start building your network.  Offer to buy lunch.  Do more listening and less talking.  Make a good first impression.  Show genuine interest in meeting with people and learning about their teams, projects, and challenges.  Not only will you gain new friends and future allies, but you will also learn about how your new company really works.  One of my mentors at Bloomberg once told me "Dedicate a full week to each key person with frequent touch points, you will be surprised at the relationships you will be able to forge!"

2- Be humble!  Your prior experience and success is certainly valuable; however, do not tell people that the way you did things in your previous life is better.  First learn why things are the way they are, then offer a modified version of what you used to do in a respectful way.  It could go something like "I don't know if this is applicable here, and I certainly defer to your judgement, but maybe doing XYZ could help us better achieve our goals."  No one likes Mr. Know it All!  If things were so perfect before, then why are you here now??  Showing respect for your new company's culture and processes while offering potential improvements for consideration makes people less defensive and more willing to listen.

3- Learn the technology, product, and your new customers.  Before trying to apply your prior experience to tackle what you perceive as potential challenges or opportunities, make sure you first understand the current technology stack and products.  Above all, make sure to understand your new customers, their workflow, their needs, and their goals.  Attend sales engagement meetings.  Listen in on sale calls.  Talk to or job shadow sales and marketing team members.  You must first have a clear understanding of the new domain before you can properly apply your value.  You definitely do have a lot to offer, this is why you were hired!  Having said that, your ideas will carry a lot more weight when your colleagues see that you understand the customer and the industry, especially when you cite specific customer observations you personally made.

4- Look for hidden opportunities.  Your external experience as well as your lack of emotional attachment to how things are done and what products are built puts you in a unique position of seeing things differently from others.  As stated earlier, do not forget to be humble and do learn the new domain first.  Find ways to add value based on your strengths and prior experience.  Do not let invisible walls associated with your title, your role, or your assigned area get in the way of you being a positive change agent.

5- Ask for honest feedback - often!  This is always good to do no matter the circumstances.  It is however especially important in a new setting.  We all have blind spots.  Your team do want you to succeed, especially those that were involved in the recruiting and interview process.  Seek out mentors and do not be shy to ask even your peers for feedback.  Acknowledge their expertise and show a desire to learn from them.

Change is never easy, but it does often offer great new opportunities.  Do not give up or be disheartened.  Create a 30-60-90 day plan with clear actions and goals at every phase.  Follow proven techniques that help you cope with the change and reap the eventual reward.

What techniques do you follow?  Do share your own experience in dealing with change...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Before joining Bloomberg LP as CTO for Industry Verticals, Hamid held a variety of leadership positions at Microsoft and IBM.  Hamid is also chairman and advisor at AdaptCore, a startup that is passionate about applying the latest technological innovations towards revolutionizing data management to enable actionable decision support.