Sometimes, getting what we wish for can be incredibly daunting. A new job can be hugely exhilarating, yes, and a big opportunity. But I can also be terrifying.
Whether you’ve been internally promoted, gone to a new organisation, or even stepping into a whole new career, here are a few tips that should help you to shine!
Reflect on your new identity: What’s expected of you in this role? How is this different to your previous role? Perhaps you’re now leading other managers, and need to take a more strategic viewpoint. How will you resist the temptation to put your “operational” hat back on? What steps do you need to take to communicate your new role to others?
Build strong relationships with your team: Get to know them on an individual basis. What do they love about their job? What keeps them awake at night? What do they wish could be better, and what solutions can they see?
Foster a great relationship with your manager: What do they love about their job, and what keeps them awake at night? How will they measure your success, and what support will they give you?
Give yourself permission to learn: You are new to your role. It will take time to get to grips with it. Give yourself permission to experiment, reflect, research, ask questions and get mentored. If things don’t go according to plan, that’s ok. Pivot and recover as quickly as you can – and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Understand your roles and goals, and identify quick wins: What are the biggest challenges? Where are your biggest opportunities? Who are your stakeholders? Who is expecting what from you? When? Is it realistic? What resources do you need? Developing your roadmap as soon as possible, and understanding dependencies, will help you to deliver (perhaps over-deliver!) what’s expected.
Invite feedback: It’s a shame that too often, we only get feedback when things aren’t going well. How are we supposed to know if we’re doing a good job, so that we can even better at it? Inviting feedback from your manager, team, colleagues and stakeholders is a big part of the puzzle. Ask them to be specific – what is it that they like about your leadership style? And what could be even better? Feedback can also come from personal reflection – how do you think things are going? Try not to be too self-critical here – talk to yourself like a good friend. Identify two things you’re proud of, and two things you’d like to improve.
Acknowledge that change can be unsettling: Even if you’ve got the job of your dreams on paper, it’s still a big upheaval, and it’s normal to feel wobbly. You may feel out of your depth, frustrated, nervous, overwhelmed… You may even wish you’d stayed in your last job. When these feelings come, it can help to reflect on them. Each day, jot down three things you’ve enjoyed, and three things you wish were better about your job. After a few weeks, you may start to see patterns. Hopefully the positives will outweigh the negatives, and if not, you’ll have a clearer idea of the source of your concerns.
Prioritise your wellbeing: Starting a new role can be incredibly demanding. You may find yourself physically and mentally drained. When there’s lots to learn, it can be tempting to burn the candle at both ends to get up to speed. But don’t forget, you will only be effective in the long-term if you look after your health. Make sure you’re prioritising exercise, nutrition, sleep and rest. But I won’t judge you if you treat yourself to a celebratory pizza!
Don’t forget to celebrate your achievements along the way!
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