Whether it’s starting a new job or first day on client site, that initial week of ‘unknown’ is always a daunting experience. As consultants we are continually challenged with new places, people and projects and sometimes it can be tricky to know where to begin.
Here are Nine Feet Tall’s top tips on how to tackle the first week and get off to a flying start.
Grab a coffee with new colleagues
There is no better way to learn about a company than to meet it’s people. Make it your first priority to sit down with every member of your new team, ask lots of questions and do a lot of listening.
Consolidate your findings
The first week in a new role is going to be overwhelming so find a way to consolidate all that you are learning in a way that works for you. I love to create a stakeholder map to capture who I have met, what they do and how they impact the people around them.
Write your own purpose and objectives
Having a project purpose and objective is great but it is equally as important to capture your own personal goals for that role so that you have clear success criteria to try and meet.
Write a plan of action for your own time
Write a plan to account for your own time even if there is a project plan already created; try and identify some key deliverables that you want to achieve in the first week with how and when you will deliver them. This will help to streamline your activity and stop you from doing unnecessary (or no) work.
Start your own risk log early
It does not matter at what point you enter a project or programme, it is wise to start your own risk log from day one. You will be privy to more information than you think and it is easy to identify potential blockers or hurdles as you meet lots of different people for the first time.
Set a precedence with suppliers and stakeholders
It can be too easy to play Mr/Mrs Nice Guy when you first start in a new role as naturally, you are trying to impress – but try not to set this precedence otherwise it can come back to haunt you. Be firm with your decisions and try to set out your own ways of working from the outset.
