Peak Performers by Tiffany Uman

How to succeed in your new job with confidence

September 25, 2023

Thank you for joining my Peak Performers newsletter! Every Monday, we cover a crucial topic along with actionable tips to position you as the top 1% in your career. Let's dive in!

Here are a few things that you may have missed last week:

Peak Performers newsletter: Become your own biggest advocate.

My new free LinkedIn Learning nano-course (just 11 min): Nano Tips to Fast Track Your Career.

My upcoming free Career Growth Accelerator 5-day masterclass starting Monday, October 16th. Spots have been filling fast and it's the last time I'm hosting this epic event. Save your seat here.

Starting a new job is an exciting time, filled with new opportunities for professional growth.

And yet, new beginnings are not without challenges and uncertainties that may overshadow your success in your initial onboarding period. In fact, numerous studies have shown that close to 30% of new employees have reported leaving their new job within the first 90 days.

So why is that?

For starters, a typical learning curve to get fully adjusted in a new job is approximately 3 months. It is only truly at this point where you begin to get into a groove where you feel a sense of ease and familiarity in the mandate of your role. And perhaps more importantly, it is within these first few months that you will set the foundation, and precedent, for which you want to be known for.

The importance of the latter cannot be overlooked nor overstated.

Peak performers understand that every day counts in the impression, perception and reputation they establish for themselves within a new job or role. They bring a level of intentionality in their approach to focus on what matters most, and they pay close attention to the micro-actions that create a successful compounding effect over time.

Here's how. 👇

Beware of red flags

Here are 4 common red flags to watch out for when transitioning into a new job or role; recognizing these potential pitfalls or areas of concern will allow you to address them proactively for greater success in your tenure.

→ Overwhelming information overload: When you find yourself bombarded with an excessive amount of information, from company policies and procedures to new systems and tools.

Solution: Break down the information into manageable chunks. Create a structured plan for learning, prioritize what is most important for your role, and seek guidance from colleagues or mentors if needed.

→ Lack of clarity in expectations: When you are unsure about your specific responsibilities, goals and face ambiguity as to how success is defined. This often leads to a clash between the role you signed up for vs. what you actually end up doing in your day-to-day.

Solution: Schedule a meeting with your manager to clarify your role, expectations, and performance metrics as early on as possible. Understanding what is expected of you is essential in order to focus your energy towards the most relevant milestones.

→ Isolation and poor communication: When you feel excluded from the team, and communication with colleagues is limited. Your boss may also be unavailable or absent, leaving you to have a lot of guesswork in your day-to-day role.

Solution: Take the initiative to introduce yourself to coworkers and support team functions, plan integration meetings to understand how your role plays into the bigger picture, and ask questions to avoid overlap in responsibilities. Building meaningful relationships, allies and open communication channels are vital in this phase of your new job.

→ Lack of onboarding or training: When you are expected to perform your role with little to no context or guidance on how to approach that best.

Solution: Demonstrate resourcefulness by getting as far as you can, while also raising to your boss the gap areas where you require further support. It is essential to openly share what you require from them to deliver win-win outcomes.

Now, let's shift into the core strategies you will want to implement proactively in your new job to accelerate your success as a peak performer.

3 strategies to master your new job

1/ Manage your boss

Your manager will undoubtedly play an integral role in your success track of your new role. With that in mind, establishing the right foundation together is critical. Here are 4 decision factors to action with your boss as early on as possible:

→ Decide on the ideal communication approach

For example, is he/she primarily relying on email as a form of communication exchange with you? Does he/she prefer an internal messaging platform instead? How should you best reach them in case of urgencies? Will you have a weekly touchpoint to align on priorities, consolidate your asks and be respectful of their time?

→ Decide on the desired level of involvement across contexts

For example, where does he/she want to be involved? Where do you have full autonomy? When does he/she need to provide approvals? Where can you push the envelope?

→ Decide on key milestones as a clear 30, 60, and 90 day roadmap

For example, what are his/her expectations of you across those respective timelines? What kinds of results does he/she want you to hit? What specific metrics are being used to measure and evaluate your success in this role?

→ Decide on low-hanging fruit opportunities

For example, what are key pain points you can problem-solve to get some quick wins under your belt? What are areas of the business where you can further support your manager by adopting a "divide and conquer" mentality?

Finally, be sure to ask for feedback regularly. You do not want to get so far into your role or projects without ensuring you are on the right track vis-a-vis your boss' expectations.

When in doubt, ask.

2/ Build strong relationships

Peak performers recognize that nurturing strong relationships with both direct and indirect team members allows for far greater impact than going at it alone when starting a new job and well beyond that point.

"Great things in business are never done by one person. They're done by a team of people." - Steve Jobs

Networking must remain an always-on strategy well after your first 90 days in a new job. This is essential across all levels of seniority to further bolster your visibility and exposure within the organization. When starting your new job, here are 5 specific action steps to facilitate your integration within the broader team:

→ Set up introduction meetings

Do so firstly with your immediate team members followed by those in different functions but with whom you will collaborate with regularly. The purpose of these initial meetings is to capture their role and responsibilities, how they compliment your own work and how should should collaborate together to achieve target outcomes.

→ Identify areas of improvement

Avoid coming off as the "know it all" new person, assuming that your know-how is better than past, or current practices. Instead, demonstrate respect for the teams that precede you and inquire about areas that they would like to improve. This will allow you to uncover opportunity areas that you can integrate back into your own recommendations that will gain you needed buy-in from those you work with.

→ Be a team player

People want to work with others who are pleasant, helpful, open-minded and generous. Embodying these qualities will take you far among your newfound peers.

Pro tip: You may face others who resist, or outright reject, ideas you propose on the basis of how long they have been there, or if a similar suggestion has been tried unsuccessfully in the past. If you get pushback on your new ideas, follow up with "interesting, what makes you say that?". Doing so will prompt your peer to defend their point of view or at the very least, provide greater context as to why the idea faces opposition. This will inevitably provide you with the opportunity to substantiate your view with more data or facts that warm them up to the suggested path.

→ Communicate openly and proactively

Clear and open communication will allow you to prevent miscommunications, overlap of work or unnecessary inefficiencies. This is particularly important for support functions who are outside of your immediate team and likely have different priorities than you, but with whom you need to work with closely.

For example, if you are in marketing and work closely with supply chain to launch products to market, you will need to be clear on what their processes and requirements are of you -along with deadlines to achieve - to avoid surprises that backfire on your deliverables. Practice intentional listening, express your thoughts clearly, and be approachable to colleagues seeking your input.

→ Show appreciation and gratitude

Recognize and appreciate your coworkers efforts. A simple "thank you" can go a long way in building meaningful relationships. You can also use this as an opportunity to appreciate their knowledge, recognize the historical context they provide, and highlight the ways they have supported you thus far in your learning curve. Kindness creates a positive ripple effect that will lead coworkers to support you even further down the road.

3/ Embrace the company culture

Alignment with company culture is not something typically voiced out loud when starting a new job nonetheless, it is the cement that brings everything together. And while company culture likely served as a significant consideration factor in choosing this new job or role, it does not stop here.

Here are 3 more considerations to take into account to leverage company culture to your advantage:

→ Outline the core values and competencies

Every organization holds values they abide by - whether publicly stated or privately woven into the fabric of its day-to-day dynamics. It is critical to tap into these values to elevate yourself within the company.

For example, if your company emphasizes innovation, demonstrate an aptitude that highlights a forward-thinking approach through your projects and communications.

→ Understand meeting structures and expectations

Getting a lay of the land with respect to internal meetings is frequently destabilizing and time consuming. Take the time with your boss and team to gain clarity on what the typical meetings include; their cadence, the required involvement from you and how to approach next steps that arise from them.

Fully understanding the structure of these meetings will allow you to speak up more confidently, while also actively contributing to the conversations.

→ Protect your time

Your time is your most precious asset; others may willingly, or unwillingly, take advantage of it.

For example, you may be asked to complete tasks that fall outside your responsibilities but for which you do not know any better. This inevitably cuts into your time that could otherwise be used towards work that you are actually evaluated against.

Peak performers remain in control of their time in order to execute with excellence.

How you choose to manage your time will be indicative of how quickly, and effectively, you deliver in your new role. Prioritize your projects and tasks with your boss' support, set realistic goals tied to your milestones, minimize distractions that cut into your productivity and learn to say no. You must avoid overcommitting yourself to work that will sacrifice quality and your well-being.

How will you choose to show up in your new job?

Finding success in your new job requires dedication, adaptability and a commitment to personal growth. Identifying red flags and adopting the 3 core strategies outlined above will position you on the right foot to make a positive lasting impression. Remember, each day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a big impact in your new role. Embrace the challenges, seek support when needed and never stop striving for excellence.

You've got this!

This week's mission is grounded in practical and impactful steps to position yourself for success in your new job or role. Dedicate uninterrupted time at home or on a walk and record yourself answering the questions below, and get ready to take action.

1/ Reflect on your biggest struggles in starting your new job or role (past or present):

Be as specific as you can in both how you are feeling and where these struggles are stemming from (i.e. lack of training, poor communication, unclear expectations, etc.).
Identify which aspects of these struggles are within your control to improve.

2/ Visualize your success:

What are 5 actions you will take, inspired by today's newsletter, that will allow you to take control and overcome the above struggles?
What are 3 key strengths that will support you in this transition period, while also contributing to your reputation?
Who will you prioritize in your relationship building to build needed support and internal allies within your first 90 days?

If you found this newsletter valuable, please share it with a friend!

And if you’re not already subscribed to my newsletter, you can do so here:

Join 17,000+ readers

Whenever you’re ready, here's 3 ways I can further support you in your career:

1. Join Inevitable Success - my group mentorship program where you have me as your mentor for weekly masterclasses on pertinent workplace topics so you amplify your confidence, influence and impact. No guesswork, all action.

2. Join Career Success Fast Track™ - the ultimate career growth accelerator coaching program to become the top 1% by making quantum leaps in your confidence, growth and income.

3. Book a FREE 1:1 career assessment call with a member of my team and I to help you decide which program will help you unlock your full career potential.