Starting a new job frightens many people, but not cosmopolitan managers. ‘Cosmopolitan managers’ have the experience, skills, and knowledge to understand and integrate quickly into the new culture. They have the ability and confidence to succeed fast in the new environment.
As for other managers, moving to another job brings a whole new environment and can be very intimidating. You find yourself in this new territory where everything looks different.
Why Adopting the Cosmopolitan Managers Mindset Allows You to Settle in Quickly?
When I moved to a new company some years ago, everything looked different. I needed time to evaluate the environment, learn and find my feet. I was feeling the anxiety of starting a new job.
But, I was glad the site director made me aware of the situation on the very first day with the company. From that day, I realised there was no time for sleeping. So, I regained my confidence and went into the action straight way. There was no looking back. And I learned that, by being proactive you can navigate a lot challenges of the new job.
Further reading: Managing From Behind The Desk Can Be Very Risky
Below are some tips that can get you moving and become a cosmopolitan manager:
1. Overcome The First Day Job Jitters
When faced with ambiguities on the first day at work, ask yourself why you ended up in the new company? It’s not a miracle you have ended up in that position. So, start building up your confidence and take charge.
Keep reassuring yourself how good you are as a leader, manager and that everything will be fine.
2. Don’t hold back.
Get on with it while anticipating surprises and lessons along the way. Move away from the back of your desk and go to offices, shop-floor, other departments and make your presence known.
Walk around, learn the flow, meet everyone and listen to what they have to say. You’re going to gain a lot of insight out of that.
Making decisions during your first few weeks on the job is always going to be tricky. Because during this period you may not have sufficient knowledge and information on issues.
Also, you can make what looks to be the right business decision, but it can turn out to be the wrong political decision. It can also be difficult making a decision about where to turn for advice making decisions.
But don’t stand there all day calculating how others will see the decision you’re going to make. Just ask yourself these simple questions: why do I have to make this decision in the first place? What will be the consequences if I don’t make this decision?
Decisions still need to be made, what to do and what to stop doing. Then go and make the best decision possible with the information at hand.
4. New Manager Introduction Meeting
Meet your entire team as soon as possible to introduce yourself. This is the first opportunity to build that important relationship with your team. Introduce yourself in the manner which isn’t intimidating; you’re pleased to join them as a new member or a leader of the team rather than the boss.
Don’t engage yourself in a long debate about things you don’t have sufficient knowledge. It is essential to crack a light joke to remove the anxiety of meeting a new manager. Keep it a bit humorous. You don’t need silence in that first team meeting – get them talking.
You may be tempted to communicate your goals and expectations, but it’s probably too early at this stage. However, assure them that your position is to provide tools and support they need to succeed.
Stress the importance of working as a team and urge them to look out for one another. And show your readiness to know them and their needs individually in the coming days and weeks.
5. Building Rapport With Stakeholders
Reach out to your colleagues and stakeholders as quickly as possible. And try to know them well while identifying their expectations. Listen, learn and then start to build the relationships with them.
Make sure you get them on board very early. After doing all of that, they will welcome you, respect you and will join you.
Related: Time To Say Goodbye To Bad Managers.
6. Most Important Things First
Many of us know instinctively that we cannot do everything at the same time. During the first weeks in a new job, you’ll be overwhelmed by a long list of priorities and big claim on your attention.
Don’t flap, trying to cover all things at the same time. Doing that will be like throwing many balls up in the air and expect to catch them all. Impossible! The chances are you’ll not catch a single one.
Stop and think! From there, the best pertinent question you need to ask is; what is the most important issue that poses a risk to the business. Which one truly needs my immediate attention?
The answer will enable a better judgement. Then, decisively choose the one that needs your immediate focus, energy and resources. After that, don’t waste time. Just get the ball rolling.
7. Understand The Company Culture
Every job has teething issues that require a manager’s interventions. Like you, in the previous company I knew almost all the bumps and turns of my job.
Whenever faced with adversities I knew where to turn for solutions. Everything looked normal and easy, even when there were massive setbacks. That was a zone where I was comfortable with the company’s culture. But I realised that every new employer I moved, there was a different operational culture.
Many companies that are in the same industry can operate with different systems, processes and structures. The operational culture is the underlying beliefs and values that are represented and reinforced through systems, processes and structures of the company.
Even where it’s required to introduce change, you need to adjust yourself first and quickly to the new environment. Because what you’re going to change is deeply rooted within the existing culture.
So, understanding the composition of existing operational culture is critical for introducing successfully the type of change your new employer demands.
8. Get Rid of Pride and Seek Help
Don’t be afraid to reach out to others for support if needed. Sometimes because of our pride, we tend to be scared of asking for help from others. Get rid of the egos that make us think we are not in positions to seek for help from anyone.
Everyone needs some sort of support to navigate through challenging corners of the new job.
What about you? I would like to see your thoughts in the comments box below.