New job, new people, new responsibilities…..sensory overload! I just completed the first two weeks with my new company. It has been a whirlwind of getting to know my team, my co-workers, new systems and new procedures. Even simple things like emails and booking meetings are a new experience (personally, I have used Outlook for years, they use Google – yikes!). What do you do when you are ‘drinking from the fire hose’ those first few weeks? You breathe….
Before my first day, I found a LinkedIn Learning course led by Aimee Bateman. She calls the first 30 days your ‘absorb’ month. According to Aimee, this is the time “…where you absorb a plethora of information: who the key partners are, what the culture is like, what the KPIs are, etc.”
She goes on to identify “The 10 Things You Should Do In The Fist 30 Days of a New Job.” You can read the complete post and watch her video here or review my summary below.
First 30 Days List:
- Talk about your “why” – explain to others why you are passionate about the company.
- Ask people what they expect from you – build positive relationships (critical!).
- Understand how your manager is measured – personally, I am checking in with my manager on a regular basis to make certain my priorities are her priorities.
- Ask a lot of questions – it shows you have a strong willingness to learn – and there will be a lot to learn!
- Memorize the org chart – people will appreciate that you know who they are. My company doesn’t have an official org chart – so I am putting together my own as I go along.
- Create and learn your pitch – perfect your elevator speech; you will be meeting a lot of people in those first couple of weeks. You may only have a few minutes – make it count.
- Research and learn as much as you can about the organization – attend meetings!
- Learn about your customers – always remember, you are there to help meet their needs.
- Observe the company’s culture – understand cultural norms (absorb, absorb, absorb!)
- Understand your performance metrics – edge on the side of over-communication.
I admit I am feeling a little disorganized this weekend – not a good feeling for me. Before Monday, I have pages of notes I need to review, to do lists that need to be consolidated and prioritized, and multiple meetings to set up (ah, that Google calendar – breathe….). That said, I do feel good about the first two weeks. What I knew going in was that this was a chance to re-invent myself, to stay true to my personal brand and to be the leader I want to be.
I invite you to follow me as I continue this personal and professional journey. Hopefully the lessons I learn will help you in your own journey. If you have recommendations to add to “The 10 Things You Should Do..” please let me know. Stay fabulous and be strong!
