A new role at work can be exciting, however, it can also be overwhelming especially in the first weeks. You want to perform to the best of your abilities, but the uncertainty of how to make it work is on the other hand taking a huge toll on you. Experts cite that with preparedness, vision, and expectations, it’s easier to transition and manage your new role at work. Educator Francis Mwangi, a lecturer at Mount Kenya University teaching human resource management points out that transitioning to a role one has not played before is daunting. However, he is quick to note that despite this, it’s essential for one to be prepared to learn. To achieve this, the lecturer notes that orientation and training should be offered to integrate the employee. “If the role is managerial, in leadership and management, training is necessary if the person has not held such a position before,” he says. Mwangi highlights that the mistake some employers make is failing to offer management and leadership training to someone who has been promoted to a senior role based on technical competencies. He goes on to note that, understanding and focusing on key result areas and key performance indicators of a new role is essential for success. And that, if the role is new in an organisation, learning about the firm’s culture and sub-culture in one’s department will help to blend in and minimise conflict. Networking to gain vital support of the key people will put one on the path to success, according to Mwangi. For Frank Rubaduka, an entrepreneur, whether you are new in office or the department you have been assigned to, there is always a culture subjected to that particular space and that what is required is to learn the culture, how it’s done, and what’s required of you. This way, he says you are kept relevant and harmless at the same time. He adds that it is also a golden opportunity and one shouldn’t let it slide back. “Before you start pondering on how much money you are going to get or getting a new car, it’s important to remember first of all that this is an opportunity that has presented itself to you. Therefore, grabbing it with keenness is essential and this is when over-delivering should come in,” he says. Rubaduka adds that the curve of delivering shouldn’t go down but rather continue at the high pace. Besides, he says that the most important thing is to keep on improving your skills and always be ahead of the game, which can only be achieved through self-learning. “Create extra value that the organisation will remember even when you are not around. I believe this is like doing something outside the box that will be attributed to your generosity and milestone. In other words, always strive to leave a legacy,” he says. Moving forward, Rubaduka says during the course of the transition, it is important to note that a new role is a platform to exhibit your skills and experience, and to generate propitious solutions which will help navigate the team and company towards a positive place. Make new connections When you get a new role, it’s important to continue making new connections- allowing others to know you. By simply being around your new team and attentively observing how everyone works and collaborates, you will gain valuable insights about the company and group culture. As Harvard psychologist Professor Ellen Larger puts it ‘in many situations, we have more power than we perceive.’ She urges that who we are at any one time depends mostly on the context in which we find ourselves. But who creates the context? The psychologist says the more mindful we are, the more we can create the contexts we are in. When we create the context, we are more likely to be authentic. Mindfulness lets us see things in a new light and believe in the possibility of change.” She also adds that one in a new role should strive at setting ambitious goals for themselves, work towards those goals by diving into situations that support them, and continually repeat this process—striving to reach higher each time. According to the psychologist, one may not always achieve the goals they set for themselves, but the process of applying yourself with vigour is where significant personal and professional growth takes place.
