Driving Yourself Crazy & The 6-Month Rule
Question: I just started a new position and as you do, I want to make a difference in everything I touch in my career…like right away, right now! How can I accomplish this without driving myself and everyone around me crazy?
This is a question that I hope to answer for you.
Firstly, it’s important to note, there is a new economy and changing business model of fast-paced companies with little loyalty delivered from the workforce that has been hammered with low budgets and high unemployment rates. Companies have been hiring and firing and tenures are cut short resulting in employee fears and higher turnover rates. Which I believe is as much a factor of the changing concept of employee-employer roles & relationships as it is the downturn in the economy. The fact that the job marketplace has changed dramatically over the past 8-10 years should naturally change your approach to making a difference in your business, division, department or with your clients.
Think back to some of the positions that you have had in the past and the impact that you had on the business and the individuals in all of the departments that you have to interact with on a regular basis. It probably has been a long and winding road to making an impact (see ‘making a difference’) that affects the business directly. I’m not saying that patience is a virtue in pursuit of your career goals – it usually isn’t. However, when it comes to gaining the trust of your co-workers and even your direct reports, you will need to take some small steps before the big ones and evaluate your performance in your 1st 6 months in valuable increments as opposed to sweeping “I changed the direction of business” type impact.
The bottom line is that a constant improvement of your skills and leverage in the company but steady and positive change that you can create in your new position is the way to go in your 1st 6 months! This goes for consultants/service providers working with large clients – your value will be appreciated more as you provide your product but the big changes will come once you gain trust. I have gone through this at different points in my career and it has worked very well. Keep the points above in your head before you get too frustrated with your self-evaluation of the 1st 6 months you have been on the job…
Coming Soon: “Channel Your Bubble Bursts”