 IN THIS ISSUE: You've just landed a big promotion or perhaps the job you've been
dreaming about. Congratulations!! You're probably feeling pretty good about
right now; as you should be. Although you should certainly celebrate your
accomplishment, you should also take some time to prepare for your new role.
Why? According to statistics from the Employment Policy Foundation,
about 25 percent of new hires won't last through the first year.
Furthermore, Leadership IQ, a training firm that studied 20,000 new hires,
found that 46 percent did not survive the 18-month mark. And if you're a
manager and think you're immune, think again. According to HR consulting
firm, Development Dimensions International, 53 percent of managers and
executives hired from the outside are gone inside one year's time. So how exactly should you prepare? Many workplace experts suggest
that you should meet with your boss and review the goals of your new role
in great detail. After all, if you don't know what is expected of you,
you'll most likely waste a lot of your time, and make yourself appear
incompetent. Ask your boss to set six-month and one year markers. This will
allow you to talk about your progress and discuss any problems you may have
encountered along the way. You can also prepare by asking any questions that are on your mind. Ask
how the person who had the job before you did things. This doesn't
necessarily mean that you have to do things exactly as they did. This
information simply gives you some perspective. Furthermore, when you ask
how that person did things, listen to the tone and body language of the
person who is doing the explaining--if they sound annoyed, they may dislike
how that person did their job. These kinds of clues will help you gauge how
your co-workers like to work, and help you decide how you want to proceed with
your own tasks. Lastly, if your promotion or new role entails working with several
new people, make it your mission to quickly learn all of their names. When
you first meet someone, repeat their name ten times silently in your head.
The next time you see them, go out of your way to greet them (i.e.,
"Good morning, John. How are you?"). Getting acquainted with your
new co-workers will help you quickly assimilate into your new role. And, if
you know their names, you'll know who to ask if you need some help! "The
concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a ‘C,'
the idea must be feasible." |