Read on Twitter
How to on-board yourself when you join a new team (THREAD)
You’ll be expected to contribute starting your first week. Here’s how to set yourself up for success.
1. Take charge of your own on-boarding.
Many companies don’t have a formal on-boarding process.
You’ll be expected to contribute starting your first week. Here’s how to set yourself up for success.
1. Take charge of your own on-boarding.
Many companies don’t have a formal on-boarding process.
It’s rare to get 3–4 weeks to just absorb & meet cross-functional team members. If you wait to have info handed to you on a silver platter it won’t happen.
Questions to ask yourself:
What platforms, folders, and logins do you need access to?
Questions to ask yourself:
What platforms, folders, and logins do you need access to?
Which specific people do you need to keep in the loop? What kind of decisions does your boss want to be involved with? What do they want you to decide on your own? What questions do you have? What hunches do you want to validate?
2. Review info with an active stance.
Your new team might send you documents, resources, links.
Don't just passively review. There's no time to just set up mtgs with cross-functional team members for the sake of it.
Your new team might send you documents, resources, links.
Don't just passively review. There's no time to just set up mtgs with cross-functional team members for the sake of it.
If you do these meetings, make the best use of everyone's time.
Come prepared with specific questions & a list of what you want to get out of the meeting.
Come prepared with specific questions & a list of what you want to get out of the meeting.
3. Gather what you need to make recommendations on next steps.
Assume you'll be taking over those responsibilities soon.
Consider:
What resources you'll need
What you want to prioritize given finite resources
How you want to lead in the next phase
Assume you'll be taking over those responsibilities soon.
Consider:
What resources you'll need What you want to prioritize given finite resources How you want to lead in the next phase
4. Make note of areas of opportunity.
Write down what you agree with and disagree with. Anything that provokes a strong reaction in you.
A recap about what happened in the past = not useful
A recap w/ your analysis and recommendations = much better
Write down what you agree with and disagree with. Anything that provokes a strong reaction in you.
A recap about what happened in the past = not useful A recap w/ your analysis and recommendations = much better
5. Form a point of view about what's happening around you.
This fresh perspective is one of the most valuable things you bring.
You're seeing the company through the precious lens of beginner's mind. Without the curse of knowledge. Use it while it lasts.
This fresh perspective is one of the most valuable things you bring.
You're seeing the company through the precious lens of beginner's mind. Without the curse of knowledge. Use it while it lasts.
6. Assume you'll lead the meeting.
You behave differently when you're a participant versus the meeting leader.
It's better to arrive more prepared. If you're unexpectedly asked to lead, you can rise to the occasion and shine.
You behave differently when you're a participant versus the meeting leader.
It's better to arrive more prepared. If you're unexpectedly asked to lead, you can rise to the occasion and shine.
7. Identify the types of decisions you'll make.
Knowing the type of decisions you have to make will help you focus.
An upcoming decision means not all information is equal.
You have to *triage and prioritize* what you need to know during your on-boarding.
Knowing the type of decisions you have to make will help you focus.
An upcoming decision means not all information is equal.
You have to *triage and prioritize* what you need to know during your on-boarding.
Thanks for reading!
If you want to develop great judgment & sharpen your leadership instincts, check out my weekly newsletter https://www.weskao.com/subscribe
If you want to develop great judgment & sharpen your leadership instincts, check out my weekly newsletter https://www.weskao.com/subscribe
