Get ready for a new role (Week 5-6)

work smarter

Your focus area for weeks 5 and 6 is to make sure that you’re not losing sight of the strengths and qualities that allowed you to get the new role in the first place. A few weeks in, this is an important area to check in with.

Spend 30-40 minutes creating your plan now, then follow it for the next 2 weeks.

Simple.

Reading time: 5 minutes

Solid foundations

What to do

Take the time to reconnect with your strengths and make sure you have a plan for how they’re adding value to your performance. Give yourself a really clear challenge of how to be leading with your strengths as well as strengthening them further.

Why do it

You’ve probably been focusing a lot on stuff that you haven’t got or need to get quickly for your new role. This can change your mindset and confidence quite quickly, so these 2 weeks are about sustaining solid performance foundations. This approach will help you:

  • Maximise your self-confidence, based on your most useful qualities
  • Keep a good balance between using what’s already strong and building new strengths
  • Maintain consistent performance levels and help maintain a helpful challenge mindset

Understand how the new role can help you grow even more from existing foundations

How to do it

There are 3 steps to take with this. Read these through, look at the example and then create your own plan.

1) What got you here will get you there

It’s time to take stock of your core performance strengths and make sure they’re still delivering for you in your new role. So take a few minutes to remind yourself of the qualities you’ve got that should still be shining through for you. Think about your core skills and knowledge. Remind yourself of key attitudes you have. Remember consistent feedback you’ve received about stuff you’re great at.

2) Strengthening strengths

After step 1, it’s time to think about the current opportunity. Which of your outstanding strengths should you be looking to strengthen? Which qualities can be tested out and taken to a new level because of the role you’re in? Great performers make strengths stronger, rather than relying on them. List your top 5 strengths to keep working on over the coming weeks (up to 5).

3) Lead with strengths

Having reinforced the strong foundation and identified some core strengths to make stronger, it’s time to get some specific planning for the next 2 weeks. Have a look at the events that are coming up in the next 2 weeks. Which of your top 5 strengths are you going to focus on leading with in each of those key events? What will you expect to see or feel as a result of leading with it?

Example plan

You’re nearly ready to build your solid foundations. To help you along the way we’ve completed an example of a Project Manager starting a new, senior leadership role. Read through it, get some ideas from it and then create your own plan.

1. What got you here will get you there

Skills/Knowledge that I have which I still need to be using…

  • Consistently high PM basics.
  • Superb organisation of complex projects.
  • Connecting with experts and engaging them with project plans.
  • Guiding teams with clarity over projects and engaging their talents.
  • IT skills to get equipment working efficiently and effectively for us.

Mindset/Attitude that always helps me get the most out of myself in any role…

  • Simplify the complex.
  • When I’ve got a plan, I’m never flustered.
  • I can roll with the punches and adapt plans as we get new information.
  • I assume everyone wants to do a great job, like me!

Consistent feedback I get that I should be reminding myself of right now…

  • Calm. Safe pair of hands. Deliver on promises. Easy to work with.

Other stuff I’m good at which I know helps me perform consistently…

  • Managing my energy levels.
  • Knowing when to call in help.

2. Strengthening strengths

Top 5 strengths to keep working on over the coming weeks (up to 5).

  1. Roll with the punches – this one’s going to be key for me in the new set up.
  2. Guiding teams – with the cross-site/virtual teams I’ll need to step this up.
  3. Managing energy levels – don’t let the size of the projects change this.
  4. Connecting with experts – new experts to connect with, new expertise.
  5. IT skills – new software to help integrate. Need to get on the front foot here.

3. Lead with strengths

Event Strength to focus on What I’ll expect to see/feel
Full team meeting (virtual) Guiding Teams – clarity, togetherness, expectations. Give everyone a shared confidence that I know what we need to do. Clear reference points going forward.
Project scoping day Connecting with experts & manage energy levels. Challenge everyone in the room to lead from their position of expertise. I’ll deliver a strong message for setting up our way of working.
Senior Leadership Team meeting Guiding Teams – get my approach across early. The team testing out my approach so we can all get on board with a shared understanding of how we’re going to work together. Seek challenge.

Coaching tips

Look to make the ‘strengths stronger’ approach a consistent way of thinking about your performance. As you grow into your new role, it’s important to maintain confidence and keep seeking the challenges that are all around you. Hold yourself responsible for getting value from your strengths every day.

I'm ready to start!

   Ok, it’s now time to create your own.
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