4 Ways to Quickly Build Influence at a New Job

Congratulations. You got the job! Now the real challenge begins: hitting the ground running. I once interviewed a C-level leader from the retail industry about the importance of quickly getting the lay of the land when coming into a new role. “The first step I take when taking on a new assignment or project is what I call ‘surveying the landscape,’” she said. “I study my surroundings, and I try to understand the people and processes that drive value in that particular area.”

You see, if you spend the first few weeks of a new job focusing solely on your new job description, you'll pass up opportunities that will set you up for long-term career success and growth, like understanding how your role can support other areas of the business and building alliances with influential counterparts. But by getting to know your new environment, you'll be able to quickly pick up momentum and become known for driving value in the organization right from the get-go. Get started with these four tips. Read more...