Settling into a new role is a daunting task for anyone; the pressure to make a positive impact as quickly as possible can often lead to a sense of urgency, and in many cases, a lack of strategic focus. This is where a well-structured 90-day plan comes into play. It allows you to navigate the first few months of your new role with a clear roadmap, helping you to set yourself up for long-term success.
Why having a plan is vital to your success
The first 90 days of a new role can largely determine an employee's future performance, longevity, and what their overall contribution to the company will be. These first few months are critical for building relationships, understanding the company's operations and culture, and setting a solid foundation for your future success.
A 90-day plan should provide a comprehensive guide for your initial few months in the company, detailing what you plan to do, why you're structuring your approach in this way, and how you will execute this plan to make progress. The goal isn't to achieve everything in the first few days but to use this time to learn, adapt, and contribute meaningfully to your new team and organisation.
Key steps for building a successful 90-day plan:
Set your goals and objectives:
Start with identifying what you want to achieve in your first 90 days. This could be understanding the company's operations, getting to know your team, or starting a specific project. Break these down into smaller, manageable tasks that you can easily track and measure and share progress with your manager.
Identify key stakeholders:
Identify who you need to connect with in the company. This could be your immediate team, cross-functional teams you'll be working with, or key decision-makers in the organisation. Try and set up meetings with them in the first month to understand their roles, expectations, and how you can work together effectively. You can use this meeting to start building your internal relationships and gain insights that will help you succeed in your role.
Analyse your findings
Once you've completed your research and met with your stakeholders make sure you take the time to review what you have learnt and analyse your findings. This step will help you identify opportunities, challenges, and areas where you can add value quickly.
Build and action your plan
With your findings, formulate a clear set of goals and a plan of action for you to follow as you continue to transition into your new role. Break it down into manageable parts to ensure you can action and achieve what you have included in your plan. Remember that you may need to be flexible with the plan as you learn more in the first few months, you may also want or need to adapt your plan to meet business needs.
Overall, a 90 day plan will allow you to balance the need for immediate action with the necessity of understanding your new environment. It encourages you to slow down, learn, and then apply your knowledge strategically for long-term success. Remember, the goal is not to achieve everything in the first 90 days but to set a solid foundation that will help you thrive in your role and contribute positively to your new organisation.
Also, it is important to share your plan regularly with your manager, they may be able to spot gaps in the plan that you have not yet discovered or help highlight areas that should be prioritised due to longer term company objectives.
