Navigating your first 90 days

When you start in a new role, it can be both exciting and overwhelming. It's well researched and documented that the first 90 days of your role can have a big impact on your long-term success.

Whilst there’s a lot of focus on the first 90 days of a senior leadership role, we believe ANYONE can use these tips to set themselves up for success.

Prepare yourself for the first day.

Preparing yourself with as much knowledge as you can before you step into a new role can help your transition go as smoothly as possible (and also reduce your stress levels). Learn as much as you can about the business, product or services and culture as you can from the outside – and think about some of the important questions your role might need to answer.

Your first day is about creating a great first impression with your new team so you need to aim for the same level of interest and enthusiasm as your interview process. If you are leading a new team, think about how you will introduce yourself and highlight areas of your past experience that are relevant to your new role. Remember – it’s also a prime opportunity to establish your leadership style and personality. A positive first impression goes a long way.  

Understand your role.

The interview process will have given you a good sense of your role but it’s important that you are clear on your goals, responsibilities and how you’ll be measured for success. Establish an early meeting with your manager to discuss expectations and performance metrics or a personal development plan will help set your direction and you are clear on what you need to achieve.

Focus on building relationships.

The easiest thing to do when you start a new role is to roll-up your sleeves and do the work, but it’s also important to build your relationships. In your first 90 days, invest time in getting to know your team and stakeholders. Getting to know people personally early on will help your transition and help you in your day-to-day role.

Don’t underestimate change.

Regardless of whether you’ve changed roles frequently or stayed in a role for years, starting in a new role can be a huge change with an intense learning curve. Having a mentor or people outside the business you can talk to about any worries can be helpful as well as looking after your health and making sure you are getting enough time to rest.

Be a good neighbour.

Wash your cup after you use it, keep your desk area clean, keep your voice down on the phone. Pay attention to the small things – there’s no quicker way to get offside with your new colleagues than by ignoring office etiquette.

Listen & Learn.

In the first 90 days be an active listener and learn the business – ask questions, explanations on how to use systems, ask questions about the past, present and future and meet as many departments and key stakeholders as you can.

Look out for early wins.

You’ve been hired into the role for a reason so play to your strengths. Look out for things you can change or implement quickly to build momentum (of course, take people on a journey and explain reasons behind any new processes and changes including how they will positively impact your team).

Seek Feedback.

As you settle in your role, find opportunities to gather feedback on your progress. Catch up with your manager, ask your teammates or even ask your recruiter to check with your manager to see how things are going. Being open to feedback and making adjustments early will help build your confidence that you are on the right path.

Remember, the first 90 days are a foundation for your long-term success and you don’t need to be a CEO to have a plan to how you approach the first days of a new role. Learning about the business (not just your role), building relationships, setting clear goals and gathering feedback will set you up for a seamless start.