Adjusting to a new job and boss

One of the most exciting times in a professional’s career is starting a new job. However with the excitement come challenges and – sometimes – stress. If you can prepare yourself for the transition before your first day in your new role, you can reduce the difficulties and concentrate on enjoying yourself instead.

Expect the unexpected

The first few weeks of a new job can often be difficult. Even seasoned professionals say that starting a new job can be a tough task. As a professional, you should realise that the job will never be exactly as you expected. But if you anticipate the challenges ahead, your transition into the new organisation will be much smoother.

Be prepared to adjust

A new job means new relationships, new ways of doing things and different expectations. This can be as simple as having to learn new processes, get to grips with new systems and even find your way around an unfamiliar building. The way you worked in your previous role may have become second nature, but that doesn’t mean you can’t adapt to your new workplace.

Learn to let go

In order to ensure that your new role starts well, it is important that you let go of your old boss. You may have worked fantastically together and loved the way he/she managed your team, but your new boss has new priorities, a new focus and almost certainly new ways of doing things.

Find out what’s needed

It is important to figure out your boss’s communication style, find out how they like to work and how they like things done. For example, does the new boss like one-on-one meetings or team meetings? Are they interested in details or do they prefer an overview? Finding out information like this will help smooth the way in the early days.

Be proactive and initiate a meeting with your new boss to discuss how they like to work and adapt.

Ask questions

No one expects you to do your new job perfectly from day one, so ask questions if you don’t know what you should be doing or how to complete a particular task. The language used by your workplace may be slightly different as well, so don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you’re still unsure. Write it down if you’re not confident of remembering the information. Find out who’s the best person to ask for help with new role – if you’ve not already been told.

Take the initiative

Be proactive and initiate a meeting with your new boss to discuss how they like to work and adapt. This will help you get an understanding of what is expected of you and help set clear expectations.

Working under a new boss can be challenging, however it is an experience that should be embraced. Learn everything you can from the experience, try and empathise with the boss’s situation, as this will ease the transition for you both. Ultimately it is just as important for you to manage your new boss, as it is for them to manage you. And remember it’s up to the both of you to make the relationship work. 

Read on for tips of how to excel at work appraisals, or network successfully.