How To Keep Succeeding After Your First 90 Days On A New Job
You sailed through your first 90 days on the new job with flying colors. Now what? The path to sustained, long-term success is an ongoing journey that requires a new set of skills. In this article, we explore 8 strategies to ensure you continue to thrive and make your mark in your new role.
Establish A Solid Foundation
The first 90 days in a new job are similar to laying the cornerstone of a building because they set the tone for your entire tenure. To maintain momentum, start by ensuring that your initial foundation is rock-solid. In the first 90 days, you made a deliberate effort to own your role, build relationships, and adapt to the culture of your new organization. At about the 100-day mark, you will want to review progress on each of these objectives you set. Are you owning your role by understanding the expectations, setting clear business goals for the team, and being proactive? Are you networking within your new industry, actively listening, engaging with your team and your peers, and seeking mentors and coaches to guide you? How are you adapting to your new organizational culture? Are you observing and learning, contributing positively, and most of all, remaining patient? Consider what you've achieved and what remains to be accomplished. By identifying areas that require further attention, you can proactively address any shortcomings and set new, realistic targets for the coming months.
Nurture Relationships
Building strong relationships in the workplace is paramount to long-term success. During your first 90 days, you likely began forming connections with colleagues, superiors, and subordinates. Now it's time to nurture and expand these relationships. Take the initiative to engage with your peers, attend team-building events, and connect on a personal level. Be an active listener and make an effort to understand the unique dynamics of your workplace culture. Strong relationships not only make your work more enjoyable but also open doors to collaboration and professional growth.
Seek Feedback Continuously
One of the best ways to maintain momentum is to continuously seek feedback. Constructive feedback is a powerful tool for personal and professional development. Don't wait for formal performance reviews; instead, proactively request feedback from your manager, colleagues, and team members on a regular basis. Acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses, and show a genuine willingness to improve. By demonstrating your commitment to growth and learning, you'll not only gain valuable insights but also establish yourself as a proactive and dedicated leader who walks the talk.
Keep Learning And Adapting
The ever-evolving nature of the modern workplace demands continuous learning [1] and adaptation. To maintain momentum, embrace a growth mindset [2], and stay committed to learning. Seek out new challenges, take on additional responsibilities, and explore opportunities for professional development, such as workshops, courses, or certifications. Complacency is the enemy of progress. By continually expanding your skillset and staying updated on industry trends, you'll not only excel in your current role but also position yourself for future opportunities to lead your team and your organization.
Expand And Clarify Business Goals
In your first 90 days, you likely established short-term goals and objectives. As you transition into the post-90-day phase, you will have more insights into the validity of the initial goals you set. Leveraging that new knowledge, it is now crucial that you refine and expand the long-term goals to ensure that they align with your organization's vision and mission. Break these goals down into smaller, manageable tasks and lead your team to create a roadmap with benchmarks and milestones to achieve them. Having a clear sense of direction will not only keep you motivated but also make it easier to motivate and inspire your team, track your progress together, and celebrate your achievements along the way.
Manage Your Time Wisely
Effective time management is a cornerstone of sustained success. As the demands of your new job become more familiar, you'll gain a better understanding of your workflow and priorities. Use this knowledge to manage your energy and streamline your tasks to optimize your time. Consider implementing productivity techniques like time blocking and task prioritization to maximize your efficiency. Some universities, including Ferris State University, provide students with an online calculator [3] to help them understand where they spend most of their time during a given day. This information can help users make adjustments to allocate the right amount to the most important tasks. By managing your time wisely, you'll reduce stress, increase productivity, and maintain your momentum.
Stay Organized
Organization is key to maintaining momentum in your new job. Develop systems for managing your workload, maintaining important documents, and tracking deadlines. Use digital tools, such as project management software, calendars, and task lists, to keep up with your work and lead your team effectively. Effective organization not only boosts your productivity but also helps you stay focused on your goals. When you can easily access information and track your progress, you're less likely to get bogged down by distractions or disorganization.
Cultivate Resilience
In any career, setbacks and challenges are inevitable. To keep your momentum in the long run, you must cultivate resilience [4]. Learning to bounce back from disappointments and setbacks with grace and determination is paramount. Remember that failure is a natural part of growth and a foundational element for both you and your team. Use failure to gain valuable learning experiences and reframe adversity as a stepping stone to success. These tactics can help you maintain a positive outlook, even in challenging times, which is paramount for sustained success in your new role.
Conclusion
Once you successfully navigate your first 90 days in your new job, you will need to maintain momentum. Armed with the strategies outlined above, you have the tools to not only maintain but also accelerate your momentum in your new role. The journey of sustaining success is ongoing, and by establishing a solid foundation, nurturing relationships, seeking feedback, learning continuously, expanding on strategy goals, managing your time wisely, staying organized, and nurturing resilience, you'll be well-equipped to thrive in your new job for years to come.
Further Reading:
[1] eLearning Skills 2030: Embracing Lifelong Learning
[2] eLearning Skills 2030: Developing A Growth Mindset
