I need to up my game at work. How to impress?

[Peppapigsucks]

I'm starting a new job in two months time in what will be my first senior management role. And frankly I'm bricking it just a little bit...

I have been in my current job for 5 years and have become a bit demotivated and complacent of late as nothing I seemed to do makes a difference (partly reason for leaving). Having my first baby (now nearly 2), working full time with a daunting commute and general tiredness have also probably played a role.

The new job will be throwing myself in at the deep end and whilst I'm looking forward to the challenge, I know I need to up my game.

Does anyone have any tips for how to excel and impress in a new job? I will be dealing direct with clients, building existing and new client relationships, managing projects and providing technical expertise. I'm worried my lack of confidence will show and they won't have faith in me. I've always had a bit of imposter syndrome!

Any help gratefully received, I've got two months notice during which to lick myself into shape!

Quite simply fake it until you can make it. Act confident and the rest will come.

Thanks for the response, it's very hard to act it though if you are not feeling it! anything else I can do beforehand to Anke myself better prepared?

Hi, I know exactly how you feel, and as the PP said ‘fake it til you make it’!
When I was in a similar position, I found it helpful to read articles on career-focused websites.
Try the following:
www.levo.com/posts
www.themuse.com/advice?ranking_category=recently-published&sort=primary_attributes_updated_at&ref=browse-landing
www.careercontessa.com/advice/

HTH!

Lurking and good luck op :)

I would get myself on a bunch of vitamins etc, eat healthy and try and exercise to ditch the tiredness - its often a catch 22.

Its often difficult to know what to do till you get into the job and then you get swept along - I would set out some ideas of objectives for say first month, 3 months and 6 months and focus on those - you can review regularly and change as needed. Activity drives sales so keep on top of that.

Hi OP

I did this 18 months ago and was petrified! I don’t know how much of this will be relevant to you but fwiw, here are some things I did that helped:

1. Set up regular check ins with my team to stay on top of what they were doing, who needed help and to encourage them to talk about blocks that I could help with or the others in the team could help with (this was great as previously they had all worked in silos - it helped them to up their game collectively as well as making me look awesome)

1. Focused on managing upwards (I had been rubbish at this before) so I kept in regular contact with my boss updating her on what was going well, what was going less well and my intended focus for the next week / month. These updates naturally grew further apart as she learnt to trust me and I grew more confident in understanding the bigger picture of the business and how I should be fitting into it.

1. I set boring admin objectives like setting aside time each day (even if it was my journey time on the train) to filter and sort emails so I could delegate actions, prioritise things for the next day, respond to ‘easy’ emails quickly, or let people know I had received their request and when I would be able to get back to them.

1. This sounds wanky but I set myself behavioural objectives as well eg using more confident language, talking about what I recommended or intended rather than asking permission to do something.

1. Diary stalking. I would see what my boss was up to for the next month (via her PA, not hacking her diary!) and suggest things I could prep for her to make upcoming meetings easier / reduce her workload. This worked well as I was usually invited to the meetings once I prepped for them so I got exposure to the CEO etc.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy the new job!

Excellent list! Just realised I too do diary stalking, so I know when boatd meetings are, I look to see when my boss is likely to have a clash in her diary and will prob ask me to cover. I then arrange child picking up etc for that day and also prepare (mildly) for the meeting so when I am asked its no big deal

Oh yes good point stealth anticipating additional childcare needs and putting plans in place in advance (if you are able to) avoids last minute stress!

Brill list Gin, thank you!

Things which impress me are:

Immediate summaries being communicated following a meeting or conference call

Clear goals set to new or junior staff and regulate update meetings on them - not just waiting for the next formal appraisal to bring things up

Staying ahead with technology and embracing any software/apps which increase efficiency, improve communication or save time.

A senior manager who gets to the gym before work, looks polished, has a positive outlook and is full of energy at 9am. It makes me think she/he is on top of the work and the department is in good shape (rightly or wrongly!😄)

I think that reading motivational business and leadership books can help open the mind to new ideas.

*regular not regulate! Phone...

Don't moan about anything to your colleagues ever.

These are nice tips.

In my opinion, go to after work events. Network with people, it will help you to loosen up and get to know people, then you can make more of yourself.

This thread is both inspiring and slightly terrifying as I am currently doing not very many of these. However if I were in your situation I'd like to think- plan and prepare, this will give you so much confidence, think about what you will wear, new outfits, always have hair, nails done etc, eat healthily. Imposter syndrome is normal. In fact it gets worse the more successful you are, there is research online about it! Senior manager roles aren't really about you (I've just started one), they are about managing/leading effectively, not just tasks but also people. Get some meetings in with people outside the org before you start, for those first few months, for external support.

As a team manager you should have access to their job descriptions and previous performance review/appraisal records. Become familiar with those before you meet them for their regular 1:1 meetings.

Stay focused during those brief meetings on what you want to achieve with them. Most of the talking should come from them. Encourage them to tell you their own interpretation of what their roles entail vs the official job description.

Get to grips with the firm's intranet site to get a good working knowledge of the different sectors. Take a look at how your own section is represented and invite suggestions from your team on any improvements and/or raise your section's profile.

Get to know the Infrastructure of the firm, including Board Structure. Introduce yourself to the Board Secretariat/Company Secretary.

Become familiar with the company's Annual Report if at all possible and take a look at the company's external profile.

Encourage cross section communication wherever possible. Eg at an all-team taking place, day, c.every 4/6/8 weeks to encourage team members to individually brief their team members on what their own little area does. Get them to nominate speakers from other sections to present to them on aspects of jobs outside your own team, where applicable.

Give clear but comprehensive instructions to those who report to you, including your Assistant. Give them the background to why something needs to be done a certain way, why a particular deadline has been set, etc to give them a better understanding and ability to schedule their working day more efficiently.

Say a sincere thank you when they've done a good job - that goes a long way...