There are a million articles that will pop up if you Google, “What to do when you start a new job.” Those articles will take you through about the first 30 days on the job. However, we’d argue that instead of focusing on the first 30 days in your new role, you need to be looking at your first 100 days in your new role. Why? Because 30 days is too short of a timeframe to focus on. You know where the coffee maker is, and have likely figured out how to impress your boss in one way or another, but you can’t take your foot off the gas just yet. Here are six reasons why your first 100 days are so important.
How are you establishing trust with your co-workers?
Theoretically, you got the job because the people you interviewed with liked you for one reason or another. However, being liked and being trusted are two different things. During your first 100 days, you’re going to want to show your co-workers that they can trust you. You’ll be able to do this in a million different ways. You can offer to help a struggling co-worker with a project, you can offer to pitch in and do the work that no one wants to, and if there’s a huge deadline looming you can show that you’ll handle your part of the heavy-lifting when it comes to getting the work done. Most importantly, simply following through with what you say you’re going to do and meeting your own deadline is one basic way to build trust with your co-workers.
Are you credible?
Have you been able to show your co-workers that you know what you’re talking about? -That doesn’t mean being a know-it-all. Saying things like, “That’s not how we did it at my old company, you have to do XYZ,” will drive your new co-workers nuts. However, if you say something like, “Have you ever thought about doing ABC? It might help us solve the problem with month end because. . .” Do you see the difference? In the first example you’re giving the impression that you’ve been there, done that, and your way is the way that works. In the second example you’re connecting a current problem with a suggestion for a solution, but wanting to have a conversation about it.
Do your co-workers see you as reliable?
Being seen as trustworthy and being viewed as reliable often go hand in hand. However, when your co-workers see you as reliable, they know that they can depend on you. That means that when there are a billion things going on, and not enough hours in a day, your co-workers know that you will come through for them. You will not wait to the last minute to ask for help, you will not just throw your hands up and complain that it can’t be done, rather, you stay late and come in early to make sure your team gets the work done when there’s a push to make things happen.
Have you proven your value as a teammate?
If your team trusts you, has seen your expertise, and thinks you’re reliable, chances are they already value you. Meaning, more than just liking you, they’ve come to hope they get to work on a project with you, or know that something is going to go more smoothly because you’re involved. But if you haven’t been able to demonstrate that you can be trusted, are reliable, and know your stuff, you probably have some work to do with helping your team see your value. So how will you do that? You can start by asking your boss. And then you can ask your team. Not in a formal, I’m really panicked that you don’t value me kind of way, but in a genuine way that communicates the fact that you want to add value.
How did you handle it when you made your first mistake?
Within the first 100 days at a new job, you have made your first mistake. How did you handle it? Did you deny making it? Did you make an excuse about why it happened? Did you own it? Did you tell your boss and team what happened? And lastly, did you apologize? How you chose to deal with inevitably making your first mistake told your co-workers and boss a lot about you as a person. If you got angry and denied it, you’ve set expectations about how you’ll react in a difficult situation. If you went to your boss and co-workers with the problem, had a solution ready to implement and apologized, you actually helped make your case for being a trustworthy employee or co-worker. Admitting when you’re wrong and that you may not be perfect is one of the most difficult things to do at work, especially when you’re the new person. However, being able to demonstrate that you’re able to do it will show your maturity, willingness to learn, and ability to be imperfect. -All wonderful qualities that we wish all of our co-workers possessed.
Do your co-workers know what you like to do outside of the office?
Do they know the non-business side of you? Or did you skip the company organized happy hour, and you’re still the new kid on the block that sits next to Brenda? We’d encourage you to let your co-workers have the opportunity to get to know you. You’ll seem more human, and less like the person who just joined the team whose last name is a struggle to remember.
While your first 30 days at a new job are important, we’d encourage you to stay focused on building these six things with your new colleagues throughout your first 100 days. There’s a reason why each newly elected U.S. President has their agenda in place and promotes what they’re going to do in their first 100 days of office. Tackle your first 100 days in a similar way, and make sure you’re focused on these six items.