How To Outperform In Your First 90 Days At Your New Job?
This article highlights the significance of the first 90 days of any new hire in any organization. The first 90-days are equally important be it a campus-hire or a lateral; and proportionately important across the corporate structure (i.e. from a fresher to a senior management executive). The key insights in this article are drawn from my observations and conversations in my current role and past associations as a human resource professional. I’m sure that some of you may experience a flashback of your first 90-days in your current or ex-firms! Here you go…
Congratulations You Are Hired! So What’s Next? Have You Heard Of The First 90-Day Plan?
New job! New opportunity! A new set of challenges! New place! And, you are surrounded by a lot of new people who are yet to understand your personal worth. Some butterflies in your stomach; anxiety about the upcoming new assignments, some excitement about future opportunities, and new dreams in your eyes! Most of us go through this wonderful experience at least once, right?
So, how does one deal with so many variables? Well, having a well-defined approach can help you settle quickly in your new environment and prepare you for a great corporate success. Your first 90-days is one of the aspects of this approach.
The first 90 days of any career transition, be it a new job or a transfer or a promotion, are critical for your long-term success in the firm; and at times also defines the highest hierarchy one can achieve in the firm. So, if your manager or human resources has not discussed your 90-day plan, then please reach out to discuss the expectations during this 90-day plan. However, please note that things may not pan out exactly as per the 90-day plan, however, the plan is the best Google map of your career you can ask for!
How To Outperform In Your First 90 Days At Your New Job!
These five tips, if followed meticulously, can help you excel in your respective organization and achieve great success in your career:
Know Your Employer (KYE):
Within a week from your joining, make sure you are clear about the company’s background, clients, products and services. Understand what your new role entails, and how well it fits with the company’s business goals; and how similar/different your role is than other team members. Most importantly brush your skills which are most crucial for your job. Freshers may brush-up on academic books, laterals may revise their fundamental knowledge on relevant subjects, senior executives may sharpen their hard and soft skills, but you better be updated. This will lay a strong foundation for your next 83 days! WoW, you’ve already completed one week!
Learn To Unlearn & Relearn:
To reach newer heights one needs to learn new things; and to learn new things, one needs to unlearn or/and relearn a few things. The unlearning process can be tough, especially when you are trying to change your preconceived beliefs/perceptions related to people, processes, behavior, situations, and experiences. Identify and learn new subjects and skills early-on! This will help you always be relevant to the job requirements. If you are working with a small-to-medium sized start-up then I would advise you to work as a toddler, have curiosity, ask questions, have an open mind, and grasp new things like a sponge.
The Proof Is In The Pudding:
In the corporate world it doesn’t matter if you are a graduate or an IIM or a CFA; what matters is the smart and consistent execution. One should be able to translate all the learning earned so far into a “Landmark Delivery” every time! Just like cricketers, musicians, actors, artists, one has to always perform, to earn due respect. For instance, at ValueAdd one of our brightest management trainees has meticulously followed his manager’s guidance, worked hard, and shortened his learning curve and built momentum within his first 90 days. Today, he is a billable resource and works directly with an investment banking client; daily interacts with Director and Associate Director level folks!
Stop, Reflect, And React:
Proactively seek feedback and guidance from your manager so that you can take timely corrective actions if needed. Keeping things under the carpet is absolutely a bad idea for the organization and employees. Open and over-communication is often good than otherwise. Reach out to all your stakeholders for feedback, including your HR, who can also offer some valuable inputs. In appraisal discussions, nobody likes surprises!
Your Signature:
Think, ask, question yourself, and brainstorm the ways in which you can contribute to the company’s growth. Establish your identity by contributing to the conversations, initiatives, client projects, informal events, and almost anything where you can make an impact.
Proactively take full ownership of the work, and you will see yourself piled up with lots of work, rewards, learning, fame/recognition, and growth!
The satisfaction of a successful delivery, especially when appreciated by the client or boss, is priceless. This could be a complex project or could be a challenging PowerPoint presentation done after many sleepless nights. Achieving such small wins can transform into a winning habit! For such small wins, gift yourself with some goodies that you like, so that you are motivated for your next win! Work hard, party harder!
So, make a lasting impression in your first 90 days, to get a great head-start to your career. All the best!
Some interesting reads, for more detailed insights:
Refer to the book “The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels – Michael D. Watkins.”
Refer to the book “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful” by Marshall Goldsmith.
This article is authored by Prajakta Shinde Jamdade (HR Manager) at ValueAdd Research & Analytics Solutions, Mumbai
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