Cutting Corners

The most helpful concept I learned in graduate school was…

***drum roll***

The thing that you miss during your entry is the thing that comes back to bite you. 

This was intended to teach the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to consulting engagements.

But it really came to life as I observed leaders manage their entry with their new teams.

It didn’t matter if they were new managers, experienced managers taking over new teams, or leaders acquiring businesses. They all missed the same thing.

And it certainly came back to bite them. Big time.

There’s so much to learn and do when getting up to speed that it’s not possible to do everything. Some things must get missed. Cutting corners is a survival strategy.

The problem is the tendency to cut the wrong corner: Relationships with direct reports.

By the time these new leaders invested time with their team, it was too late to show employees that they mattered. It’s hard to get people onboard when your actions scream that they aren’t important.

Ignoring people in the short term has long term consequences.

As you get up to speed in a new role, engage your people along the way. Be sure your “meet and greet” agenda includes learning what you need to know for your role and what you need to know about each person (both professionally and personally!).

And write down what you learn. When you’re “drinking from the fire hose” it’s easy to underestimate the impact the high cognitive load has on your ability to remember details. The information you capture during your early interactions can inform your decision making later on (e.g. work from home, delegating tasks). Plus, it sends a message you were listening!

Learning about the job and building connections at the same time sets you up for success - no matter how well you know the business, you’ll need to rely on other people to achieve your goals.

Melissa Janis builds management capabilities to create a workplace that's better for your employees and better for your bottom line.