When starting a new IT leadership role, what’s your ramp-up style? Do you try to make a big splash immediately, or do you take your time to formulate a plan? Do you pack your calendar with lunch meetings to get to know new colleagues, or do you let relationships form naturally? When presented with all the new challenges and opportunities of a new role, where do you start?
Everyone has their own approach, but what you do in the first 100 days matters greatly. During this pivotal time, great leaders create a foundation of trust and mutual respect that goes a long way in helping them succeed. Consider these 10 ideas, from IT leaders who've been there, to make a good first impression and make the most of your first few months on the job.
1. Prepare well before day one
Shawn Burke, global chief security officer, Sungard Availability Services: “To hit the ground running in a new leadership role, you need to start researching the business prior to your first day on the job. To help me prioritize my time when I came onboard as CSO, I created a top 10 list. It included everything from understanding the business and culture to assessing the current state of the technologies, requirements, policies, procedures, and much more.”
2. Leave your ego behind
Mike Kelly, CIO, Red Hat: “I’ve tried to be cognizant when referring to my professional life before Red Hat. It used to drive me crazy when new people would come in and all they did was talk about what they accomplished in a past organization. It’s important to a certain degree, but at some point, you’ve got to let it go and focus on what’s coming in the future. Even so, I do think reflection is a critical element of leadership, and if you practice it well, it can help you find ways to constantly improve. What’s troublesome is coming into a new role with a destination mindset. Instead, come in with a journey and stops-along-the-way mindset. Know that you can always get better.”
[ Learn more from Mike Kelly. Read the full article: 4 tactics to make the most of your first 100 days on the job. ]
3. Make a first impression – with everyone
Roy Anderson, digital transformation officer and chief procurement officer, Tradeshift: “Most people walk into a new role friendly and personable, but others may only see them by their title – as their new IT manager or CIO. You have to be aware of how people perceive you, even if you don’t perceive yourself that way. Everyone matters in the organization – from the first person you meet at the front desk to the CEO. If you want people to feel comfortable approaching you, work to develop a relationship with everyone.”
4. Dig into financials and external factors
Scott Rexroad, founder, Lil-Tec: “The most important thing any new IT professional needs to know is how the organization makes money! If it stops making money, it does not matter how good you are or what role you’re in, you will not be there for long. From there, the higher up the ladder you go, the more you have to be aware of the external environment in addition to the internal one. This is especially true for CIOs. Traditionally, senior executives are more concerned with PEGS (political, economic, geographical, and social factors) than just internal cultural integration within the firm. IT leaders also need to have an acute understanding of the business lines, marketing campaigns, and competitive advantage of their organization, as well as how external influences affect the overall organization and in turn, their own IT shop.”
5. Beware of baggage – theirs and yours
Anderson: “New IT roles may come with a certain level of baggage. If the person who held the role prior to you was not great, you may have to work to dispel that perception before you can get ahead. You may also bring your own expectations. For example, every company has its own culture around work-life balance. Some have a more structured environment, while others accept that IT is a 24/7 job. Understanding how people in the organization view work-life balance, and accommodating that in the way you work, will be crucial for getting along.”
