Struggling to source information in a new job? Here's how you can solve that

I have been a part of the Buffer Slack Community for the past four years. In the beginning, I was a quiet lurker, reading what some of the best minds in the marketing and startup world had to say. Then, I began to share my own thoughts and ideas and even served as a Buffer Community Host in the past.

Today, someone on the community asked a very interesting question. This person had started a new job in a marketing role and was having trouble getting teams to give information.

This is an issue I have often faced, especially since I have worked as a remote consultant for four years now.

Now, there is the problem of connecting with in-house teams. And then there is the problem of connecting with a team you have never met! You can imagine how much tougher that could be!

As I put together my thoughts, I realized I needed to share this with more than just the Buffer Slack Community. So, reusing my advice here as an article.

The first few days at a new job are always challenging. And if there are no systems in place, it becomes additionally hard. Since I have faced this issue time and again, I have created a task list. The methods on the list when employed can make a new environment work in one's favour.

Build relationships first

Get to know all the people who need to be share information with you. Get to know everyone else, too!

You are not expected to work wonders on Day one. Not even Day 10. Take your time to build a strong network in the new place.

Make an effort, even if it seems irrelevant to your job. It helps in the long run and good relationships make for a great work environment.

Once you are their friend, you are harder to ignore. People will share things on time and make an effort.

Meet one-on-one

Reach out to all the heads of the teams you need to work with and connect on a one-on-one meeting. Share the agenda of discussion beforehand. I'd roughly list this agenda as:

- get to know the team's day-to-day operations

- understand the team structure

- set up a system for regular information transfer/ updates

- identify a responsible stakeholder for updates

This clear-cut agenda makes everyone accountable and on record. Once the meeting is complete, always follow-up with a summary to send to important parties.

Setting systems in place

This is tough! But, in a place where there are no processes, it sometimes becomes your responsibility to set them up.

How can you get information week on week? Could you get the team to fill a form/questionnaire? Would a recurring meeting help? Or an email reminder? What is stopping people from sharing information? Is it difficult to report it?

By asking these questions and then some, you identify what is causing the information gap. And with that, you can find the right solutions.

Always share results

Most of the times, people assume that the information we ask of them is irrelevant. Or they are so busy, they push this request to the back-burner. The only way to instill urgency is to show them how their data is impacting your work and the company's growth. Always include the people concerned in the process. Share the results of their contribution via email with a note of gratitude. People love being a part of a success story and they will be glad to put in the extra work.

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These are some very basic pointers that can help face a difficult situation in a new environment. Have you struggled to get information at any point? How did you work it out?

Would love to hear more perspectives from each one of you!

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This is the eighth article in the series on jobs and life, called ' Jobscapes'. Read the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh articles for the whole picture.