First 90 days in a new role

Changing a job after a long stint brings with itself numerous opportunities as well as challenges. For me not only was it a new job but a new country as well that made it exciting and equally challenging. So a lot of people ask me how I am settling in at my new workplace? Research shows and I agree as well that the first 90 days at work are extremely crucial. Making the right impression on your colleagues and leaders is not only essential to success in your current role but also for your overall career. Here are some things you can do in the first 90 days at work.

1) Picking up as many opportunities as you can: Your workplace will give you a number of opportunities to do new things. It is up to you to grab these opportunities and get involved as much as you possibly can. You may think a certain initiative isn’t right for you, or that you’ve never done anything like this before; all the more reason to get involved! You’re starting a new job, and this is a great time to embrace new opportunities. This not only demonstrates enthusiasm, but offers an opportunity for you to meet a wider network of colleagues which means more learning.

2) Observe and Blend: Understanding the office culture and environment is really important. Observe people around you, assimilate and blend in the culture. And always listen before you speak.?Sometimes people feel a need to prove themselves early on, so they form an opinion before they really know what they’re talking about.

3) Get to know your colleagues: Building relationships with your colleagues is essential to the success and enjoyment of a job. You need to work with these people on a daily basis, so really put some time in getting to know them. Car pool to work, go out for lunch or drinks; make a point of talking about things other than work. Getting comfortable with the people you work with should instantly help you relax and do a better job as well as learn so much more about the history of the organization. Remember, these people have been in the organization before you, they can tell you things that aren't recorded in any Standard Operating procedure (SOP) or Process notes.

4) Assess your vulnerabilities: There’s always a risk you’ll gravitate toward the parts of the job that you enjoy and feel you’re good at—and ignore the parts of the job that you dislike or aren’t as good at.?Try to become more ambidextrous, so to speak, so you’re well-rounded.

The first step is to identify your strengths and weaknesses, so make a SWOT. The second step is to force yourself to prioritize job responsibilities in terms of importance, rather than preference. By forcing yourself to do this, you might become faster at things you weren't comfortable with in the beginning and perhaps even learn to enjoy it.

5) Human Library: Google can be your best friend, but sometimes there’s no better replacement than having a one on one conversation with a co-worker, the Human Library. If you can’t wrap your head around something, don’t sit there stewing on it – ask someone! It’s easy to shy away from asking questions for fear of hassling your colleagues, but you’re a team, remember. You’re still in the early stages of your job and are perfectly within your right to ask for help when you need it.

6) How can you get people to respect and trust you from the start? Be proactive because it’s your responsibility to make the relationships at work, work. If your boss doesn’t reach out much, you make it a point to check in regularly. Ask how your boss prefers to be contacted—in person, via phone, by email—and how often.

Manage expectations—no one including our bosses like surprises. If something is taking a turn for the worse, keep people informed and have or suggest a plan to solve it. These strategies will help your boss get up to speed and realize you’re reliable.

7) Be flexible and adaptable: Skills that helped you in your last job may not necessarily help you in the current one. Recognize what new skills your new job requires—and grow into the position. Some skills will come naturally to you as you spend more time on new tasks, but you may require extra help for others, remember the Human Library I mentioned above. See if there are any free online programs or books you can read that would boost your knowledge. Create a development plan and share it with your boss. Discuss things that need to be included in the plan and agree a timeframe to complete the same. Speak to your human resources manager to see if the company offers any internal programs or discounts on external conferences or classes that might accelerate your learning and development.

8) Get Feedback early on: Finding out how your manager feels you’re performing early on can really help you; realistically, you’re not going to know how you’re getting on if no one tells you. So don’t be afraid to reach out and ask your manager how you’re doing. Getting some positive feedback can really boost your confidence and as a result improve your performance. It’s also not a bad idea to identify areas for improvement; it’s better to rectify any problems in the early stages before you get stuck into any bad habits. Asking colleagues for feedback is also a good idea especially when you are working with them on the same project.