Master Your First 90 Days: The Ultimate 30-60-90 Day Plan for Career Success
Learn how to accelerate your growth, impress leadership, and fast-track your success in a new organisation with a winning 30-60-90 day strategy.
Hello, I am Saurabh Tandon and welcome to the weekly edition of More than Buzzwords. Today’s newsletter is relevant for all new joinees who wish to make their mark in their new organisation, get some quick wins and lay a healthy foundation for faster promotions. Let’s dive in!
Remember Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
When I first watched him step into a world full of wonder and uncertainty, I could very well relate to his journey.
At first, he’s just a learner—feeling excited and nervous in tandem—trying to understand magic and make friends.
But soon, he becomes an integral part of the Hogwarts community.
What’s the point?
Your first 90 days in a new job can feel similar. You start as a learner, soaking up information and figuring out your place.
But this is your chance to transition from learner to contributor—and even a leader.
While you may question your choices, it’s important to know that it’s absolutely okay to feel that way!
But hang on!
Research suggests employees actively engaging during their first 90 days are 69% more likely to get a promotion in the first year of their job.
Now that’s a reason to buckle up!
Isn’t it?
These 90 days are your golden opportunity to set a perfect stage for success.
· How do you build relationships that matter?
· What steps can you take to make a meaningful impact early on?
· And how can you position yourself as a leader before the dust settles?
We explore these questions and arm you with strategies to navigate your new role like a pro!
The First 30 Days- The Learner Mode
Alrighty!
So, the first 30 days give you a chance to meet new people, learn the ropes, and explore the workplace culture.
Each person you meet and each task you tackle is a stepping stone toward building your success.
Make optimum use of this time --- familiarise yourself with your surroundings and the key players in your new environment.
So, roll up your sleeves and get going!
#1. Immerse Yourself in Company Culture
As the new kid on the block, you have a unique opportunity to ask questions that others might avoid.
Ask as many as you can
Dive into meetings, join team outings, and soak up the atmosphere. Pay attention to how your colleagues communicate.
Take notes from every conversation or meeting
Are they casual or formal?
This insight will help you blend in seamlessly.
After all, you don’t want to be the only one showing up in a trouser at a casual Friday gathering!
#2. Build Your Network
Think about who could be influential in your career journey—your manager, teammates, or even people from other departments.
Make a list of these key individuals.
Having a solid network can be your secret weapon for climbing the corporate ladder.
#3. Reach Out Regularly
Make it a goal to connect with someone from your list each week.
A simple message for a virtual or in-person coffee can open doors for collaboration:
Ask Engaging Questions
During these conversations, don’t hesitate to ask thoughtful questions that invite discussion.
For instance, you might explain your role and responsibilities, then inquire about their current projects, their specific position within their department, and what key challenges they believe they’re facing in collaboration with your team.
Document Your Insights
After each chat, take a moment to reflect on the insights you gained. Consider how you can apply what you learned to enhance your own work or identify potential areas for collaboration.
Jotting down key points and personal details about your contacts—like their interests or challenges with recent projects—can help you remember important information and build rapport, all while working together to find solutions.
The Next 30 Days: Transitioning from Observation to Action
Once you've settled in, it’s time to shift gears from observing to actively contributing.
You’re ready to make an impact!
# 1. Identify Areas for Improvement
Reflect on what you've learned about your team and processes. Are there any areas that could benefit from fresh ideas? Spotting these opportunities shows that you're not just sitting back; you're ready to take action.
# 2. Set Personal Goals
Establish clear goals for yourself based on what you've observed. Whether it's enhancing a specific process or collaborating on a project, having defined objectives keeps you motivated and focused. The organization might not have clear goals for you at the outset. Take charge and set them up!
# 3. Take Initiatives Adding Value
Don't just sit around waiting for someone to drop tasks in your lap. take the reins and steer this ship.
Based on everything you know and what you have learned so far, at this point, you should be very clear about your role.
So!
How about taking on 2-3 priorities with measurable outcomes that are directly related to your role, but in addition to your day-to-day tasks?
Let me specify for a better understanding!
Focus on, let’s say 2-3 important things that you will finish apart from the other routine tasks within the first 90 days. These initiatives will help you add the most value to the purpose of your role.
While on the one hand, this will help you stand out in your team --- as you are not just going through the motions, it will help you enjoy your work more, on the other.
So, how small or big these initiatives can be?
Well, it could be as small as improving or implementing something that’s giving a hard time to a lot of people including colleagues, customers, and even stakeholders such as work overload, rework, or customer complaints.
Or something that’s causing a combination of these!
Now, it might be challenging for you to get their time – but here it is!
Whatever the projects happen to be, do what you can within the scope of your role to benefit your business the most, and yes projects that you can finish within those 3 months.
Taking up these challenges might just earn you a gold shiny star at work and save everyone from pulling their hair out --- knows who!
# 4. Define Metrics and Align with Your Manager
Pick wisely! And let’s say you have 2 or 3 initiatives on your list – you should make sure that at least 1 of these is completed way earlier than others – to be precise, within the first 60 days.
Doesn’t matter, if it is smaller than the other 2, it will help you build confidence and demonstrate that you know how to get things done.
Now that you are done with choosing your projects, you must think about how each one of these can be measured in some way.
It will help you prove that you achieved the expected outcome. Have some metrics at hand.
If you are unable to think of any ---- you are wasting your time!
So, to compare your current state with the proposed future state, you need some metrics, and if you still struggle to find any ---- either :
- Your initiative isn’t solid enough to move the dial on anything.
OR
- You aren’t experienced in how to go about it and need to discuss it with the stakeholders or your manager.
Now that you have your initiatives and metrics, you need to make sure that you are aligned with your manager.
# 5. Share Your Progress
As you roll out those changes and take on new projects, make sure to keep your network in the loop! Share your journey and the wins along the way.
Nope, this is way more than just showcasing your achievements; it’s about building trust and solidifying those connections you've been nurturing for a while.
When people witness your impact, it boosts your credibility tremendously and inspires others to rally behind you.
The Last 30 Days: Embracing Leadership Opportunities
Once you've established yourself as an active contributor, it’s time to step into leadership roles.
The last 30 days present a wonderful opportunity for you to take charge and demonstrate leadership qualities.
Show that you can don multiple hats --- from leading a project to mentoring a colleague, or facilitating team discussions.
# 1. Support Team Objectives
Be proactive in helping your team achieve its goals by sharing insights or resources based on what you've learned through your networking efforts.
# 2. Propose New Initiatives
Use your insights about common challenges within the organisation to suggest initiatives that align with growth strategies. Demonstrating this forward-thinking mindset can set you apart as an emerging leader
# 3. Review strategy for next 90 days
Now you are in complete control of your role, how is it aligned to the org vision and responsibilities of your teams and cross functions in achieving that end goal. You need to be extremely proactive to plan your next 3 months in the org to build on the solid foundations that you have built in the first 3 months. Focus on needle moving, high visibility projects and go an extra mile to help your team achieve their targets as well
The Big Takeaway
Here is my 30-60-90 day plan at Droom. See the exact details:
Your first 90 days in a new job can be a total game-changer!
It’s your time to go from being the newbie to a key player—and maybe even a leader.
These 90 days are crucial for transforming from a learner to a key contributor and leader. Immerse yourself in the company culture, build relationships, and ask questions to understand your environment.
As you settle in, shift from observation to action. Identify areas for improvement, set personal goals, and take the initiative. In your final stretch, embrace leadership by connecting with colleagues and proposing new initiatives. Focus on building genuine relationships instead of just networking.
This is your golden opportunity to lay the groundwork for long-term success—make it count!
So, as I wrap this up, I wish you all the best on this exciting journey!
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