Making a Strong Impression and Driving Impact in Your First 90 Days
Starting a new job can bring out all kinds of emotions for people – excitement and happiness but also stress and anxiety. After all, you are entering a completely new territory, and it’s totally normal to feel a little uneasy about things. That said, the first 90 days is really a crucial period to establish yourself, make a strong impression, and lay the groundwork for your long term success at the company. And while it may feel like an extension of the interview process at times where you are still trying to impress those around you, it’s also your chance to get acclimated to the company culture, ease back into your good work habits and processes, and make sure you have what you need to be successful. In this article, we are sharing a ton of tips to make sure you feel great about starting your new gig. We will get into what it means to build your personal brand and why it matters, share tips for building a strong 30-60-90 day plan, and also share some tactical actions you can take to ensure you are making a strong impression and driving impact in your first 90 days at a new job.
First Impressions & Your Professional Brand
Why First Impressions Matter
This goes without saying, but first impressions are really important! They set the tone for your reputation and can influence how seriously your peers and supervisors take you. And establishing a professional, competent image in the first few months on the job shows that you’re really on it and committed to making an impact quickly. It also likely will set you apart from others, which will aide you down the line when you are ready to move up the corporate ladder.
Key Qualities to Demonstrate in the First 90 Days
Your professional brand is the way others in your organization perceive you based on your actions, work ethic, and communication. In the workplace, a strong brand establishes you as dependable, skilled at what you do, and personable.
Below are some essential qualities you should demonstrate in your first 90 days, along with tips on how to showcase them effectively.
- Reliability: Show up on time to meetings, meet deadlines, and follow through on your commitments. This signals to others that they can depend on you, which is an important foundation for long term professional relationships.
- Professionalism: Maintain a respectful and approachable demeanor in everything you do. Even if you’re in a casual workplace, taking your work seriously will make a lasting impression.
- Proactivity: Look for ways to add value without being asked. This could mean taking on a project, offering to assist a teammate, or proposing new ideas in team meetings even if you are new!
- Effective Communication: Always strive to be clear, concise, and direct in your communication. It’s always the best approach. Ask questions when needed, actively listen to others, and express appreciation for your colleagues’ contributions.
- Adaptability: Show that you can adjust and go with the flow. Accept new systems, feedback, and changing responsibilities without emotion. This adaptability to change is highly valued in today’s modern workplaces and something that you definitely want to showcase.
Other Tips to Build Your Professional Brand
- Clearly Define Your Strengths: Before you enter a new job environment, it’s a good idea to have a clear understanding of what your strengths are. Either write them down on paper, or have them top of mind. This way, you are prepared to showcase your skills from the moment you walk in the door.
- Stay Consistent: Repetition is key with this stuff. It’s not enough to just showcase one of these qualities one time. Consistently demonstrate these qualities over time, so your peers recognize them as an inherent part of who you are.
- Seek Feedback: Don’t hesitate to ask for feedback from peers and supervisors to understand how you’re being perceived and identify areas for improvement.
- Build Relationships: Take time to get to know your team and other departments. Personal connections matter and make people more likely to help you in the future, so take the time to nurture these relationships from the get-go.
The 30-60-90 Day Plan
What is a 30-60-90 Day Plan?
A 30-60-90 day plan is a structured roadmap for your first three months on the job. It outlines your goals, key deliverables and actions you plan to take, and success metrics at key stages along the three month timeline.
Why It’s Important
First and foremost, by creating this plan, you’ll show that you’re serious about your success and give your manager insight into how you’re tactically going to start delivering value. Plans often fall apart because people overlook the tactical steps and potential dependencies needed to bring them to life. By mapping everything out in this plan, you show that you have the ability to think at the lowest level of detail. Also, for you personally, it will help you stay organized, prioritize your tasks, and track your accomplishments.
Outline for a Strong 30-60-90 Day Plan
Below is a sample framework that you can use and tweak for your 30-60-90 day plan.
- 30 Days: Learning and Integrating
- Objective: Get acquainted with the company, understand your role, and build initial relationships.
- Activities:
- Attend training sessions
- Schedule one-on-ones with teammates and managers to understand team dynamics and goals
- Familiarize yourself with the systems, tools, and workflows
- Set up success metrics with your manager
- Success Metrics: Measure your understanding of key processes, completion of training, and initial relationship-building milestones
- 60 Days: Contributing and Improving
- Objective: Begin contributing to projects, apply what you’ve learned in onboarding, and identify areas for improvement.
- Activities:
- Start handling smaller tasks independently
- Offer suggestions for process improvements
- Begin taking on more responsibilities in team meetings or team projects
- Success Metrics: Track the number of projects or tasks completed, number of suggestions you’ve identified for process improvements, and feedback you’ve received on your early contributions.
- 90 Days: Leading and Refining
- Objective: Take ownership of your key responsibilities, lead small projects, and solidify your role within the team.
- Activities:
- Complete your first major project or make a meaningful contribution to a larger one
- Demonstrate your capabilities by sharing progress with your manager
- Set up regular check-ins with your manager for long-term development
- Success Metrics: Completion of a significant project or milestone, positive feedback from your manager, and clear long-term goals aligned with your person and broader team’s objectives.
Other Tactical Steps for Your First 90 Days
In addition to the tips shared about building your professional brand and developing your 30-60-90 day plan, there are few other tactical actions you can take in the first 90 days that will really set you apart from your peers. These steps will help you build influence internally, refine your role even further, and demonstrate your commitment to the job and team.
- Request Regular Feedback: Seeking feedback from your manager and peers helps you identify growth areas and allows you to be more proactive in your personal development. It also shows that you’re open to learning and committed to improvement, which is a great brand to give off. We recommend setting up biweekly or monthly check-ins to track your progress.
- Document Your Wins and Lessons Learned: It’s always a good idea to keep a record of your achievements, challenges, and lessons learned throughout your onboarding (or even beyond!).. By doing this, you’ll have a clear list of contributions to share during reviews or check-ins or even promotion cases. It also strengthens your reputation as a proactive, results-oriented team member.
- Observe and Learn the Company Culture: Pay close attention to how teams communicate with each other, how decisions are made internally, and what behaviors are valued in your new organization. Understanding the culture helps you adapt and align your actions to fit the environment, which will just enhance your professional brand further.
- Network Within and Outside Your Team: Building a support network within your team and across departments can open doors for collaboration and even mentorship. Set up coffee chats or informal meetings with people from different departments to gain a broader perspective of the company’s mission and values.
- Be Proactive About Solving Problems: When you encounter challenges, try to approach them with solutions in mind. Identifying and addressing issues vs just complaining demonstrates your ability to critically think and take initiative. Whether it’s streamlining a process, finding a workaround for a software issue, or resolving a minor miscommunication, your willingness to tackle obstacles will set you apart from others.
- Ask Clarifying Questions: Rather than making assumptions, always ask questions to clarify goals and expectations. This will help you avoid mistakes and also shows that you’re engaged and interested in understanding things end to end.
- Set Up Your Long-Term Goals with Your Manager: By the end of your first 90 days, it’s a good idea to start thinking about your long-term goals and priorities. This sets the stage for future growth and advancement in the company. Schedule a goal-setting meeting with your manager where you can discuss what success looks like over the next year and beyond.
Wrapping Up
The first 90 days in a new job are really important for creating momentum, building relationships, and establishing yourself as a valuable and capable team member. With a well-defined personal brand, a strategic 30-60-90 day plan, and actionable steps like requesting feedback and networking with other teams, you’ll be well on your way to delivering value in no time. Starting a new job may feel overwhelming, but approaching it with a plan will set you up with the strong foundation needed to build a fulfilling and productive career. Good luck!
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out our other one on How To Supercharge Your Work Performance with SMART Goals.
