Woman Starting a new job
Starting a new job? Congratulations! Though I know it can be both exciting and challenging. That’s why the first 90 days are critical. During this time, you’ll have the chance to learn, build relationships, and demonstrate your value to your new team. This is an excellent opportunity for you to create a lasting impression and lay the foundation for success in the company. While most people know this already, few know how to do it right.
Research suggests that an employee’s performance, longevity, and contribution to the company can be determined by their first 90 days. However, this doesn’t mean you should try to do everything in the first week. Take the time to understand the company’s values, mission, and culture. Pay attention to how things are done and adapt your approach accordingly. Prioritize the tasks that will have the most significant impact on your first 90 days.
Here are some key strategies to help you make a significant impact during this critical period:
1) Clarify Expectations
Meet with your manager early on to clarify expectations for your role. Discuss goals, responsibilities, and key performance indicators (KPIs). This will help you prioritize your tasks and focus on what matters most to the organization. The main things to discuss according to Harvard Business Review experts include finding the what, why and how:
- What do you plan to do to learn your new role and contribute?
- Why are you structuring your approach in this way?
- How will you execute this plan to make progress?
2) Build Relationships
To achieve success, it is important to identify the stakeholders you need to meet and interview. Invest time in building relationships with them. These stakeholders could be your colleagues, both within and outside your team. You should also reach out to customers and learn more about what they wish they could change. You could even try to sell the product yourself. Be proactive and introduce yourself, ask questions, and show genuine interest in getting to know others. Networking internally can lead to valuable collaborations and support when you need buy-in. When you engage with stakeholders, listen actively, ask clarifying questions, and ensure that you understand their expectations and feedback.
3) Document Your Findings
It’s important to take the initiative and look for opportunities to improve your work or start new projects that align with the company’s goals. After meeting with colleagues or clients, try to identify key themes from what you heard and didn’t hear. Be aware of any inconsistencies that might require clarification. You could consider designing a report or SWOT analysis for the company, with a focus on the aspects that you can work on in your role. “You can provide almost instant value—and make a positive first impression—by offering the insights gleaned during the onboarding process. The company can benefit from your fresh eyes and new perspective” says Matt Spielman with Harvard Business Review.
4) Get Feedback and Plan
After conducting your research, it is recommended that you share your findings with your manager or colleagues. Together, define the next steps to take and commit to continuous learning throughout the process. When presenting an idea, try to see things from their perspective, especially if it is not well received. Be adaptable and flexible when navigating organizational challenges and changes. To track progress and identify areas for improvement, request regular check-ins with your manager. Additionally, feel free to ask how you can better contribute to the team and organization. Build trust through feedback.
5) Look for the low-hanging fruit
Look for quick wins, low-effort, high-impact changes. You may think it’s too obvious, but they may not be seeing it from the inside.
Kyle Poyar interviewed executives and recommends some of the following:
- Audit the funnel, looking for the low-hanging fruit: Look for opportunities that challenge their assumptions.
- Test a new call to action: Identify the highest point of leverage where there’s a drop-off in the funnel
- Get rid of meetings: review actual meetings and check if you can stick to just a few rituals.
- Send a Weekly update: sending regular written observations and kudos can help you scale your visibility more quickly.
6) Prioritize
It is OK to want to make a positive first impression, but it is better to go slow and steady to do every step intentionally. Learning new processes, and cultural traits and meeting new people can be overwhelming. Make sure you are organized and have time to prepare for the meetings you set. Check if the company offers access to or pays for any time-management app that can help you sync your work with your team.
By following these strategies, you can make a meaningful impact in the first 90 days of your new job and set yourself up for long-term success and growth within the organization. Remember to stay focused, proactive, adaptable and more importantly, organized, as you navigate this critical period in your career journey.