Stress-Free Tips for Managing Transitions, New Teammates & New Management   

Change is, as they say, the only constant in the world, and the case is most definitely the same in the corporate world. In fact, corporate America has taught me an invaluable lesson I’d like to pass along:  nothing is permanent. Management changes constantly, processes are updated, new team members are added to your organization, you are asked to move cubicles…the list could go on.  How does one tackle this change, head-on? Here are some mechanisms I have found useful in my time in the work force, and hope they are helpful to you as well!

New Management

You have just found out your boss is moving teams and that you’ll be reporting into a new outside hire two weeks from now. What do you do? Keep your cool, that’s what. It is a reality and an absolute certainty that you won’t work for the same person forever. As much as you may love them or love working with them, people move on and take on new challenges.

Here are some tips on how to “manage your new manager”:

• Send them an email welcoming them to the team and informing them how excited you are about the opportunity to work with them. Odds are they are as nervous about this change as you are, and no one can possibly dislike a friendly email!
• Set up time on their calendar – even a fifteen-minute introductory interaction – to get to know them a little better.
• Document what you have been working on and present it to them in your first formal one-on-one meeting. This will set the tone for every one-on-one you have moving forward. In other words, get prepared.
• Get a routine going – Keep an eye on when they work in the office and when they work from home. It is important to have social and professional interactions with them in the office. So in order to do that, you need to be in the office when they are.
• Humanize them – They may be your superior, but they are still only people. Talk about yourself with them and ask them questions about their lives. Build a real relationship with them.

New Team Members

• First of all – How exciting! You get to work with someone new! Look at this as an opportunity to learn from someone coming in from the outside and the possibility of a new friendship…you never know what can happen.
• Much like the managerial shift, make sure to take the time to introduce yourself and offer your time should they have any questions or concerns. They are the new kid on the block, after all.
• Ask them questions about their role. If they work on your team, but manage different responsibilities, this could be a great way for you to learn more about how your team functions as a whole and other roles you could be looking into for yourself.

Procedural changes

• If a process is changing, most times that means the old way was inefficient. This could be a good sign! So take a deep breath before freaking out over something small like “preferred subject lines in emails,” etc.
• If the procedural change involves learning a new tool, take every opportunity to get trained on it! Every skill is ammo in your arsenal and every opportunity to add to that arsenal shouldn’t be taken for granted.
  • Example: You’re in Sales and your organization has just purchased a Salesforce.com license for you.  Don’t stress! Get on YouTube and watch tutorials. Shadow a coworker. You’ll have it down in a week, guaranteed!
  • Don’t get left behind. Don’t compare this new procedure to the old one. Master the new norm and don’t look back, as much as you might want to.

Moving into a New Role

• They say it takes six months to really get situated in a new position. So the first thing you need to know is that you won’t have all the answers on your first day. Therefore, remove the pressure to feel that  you need to know exactly what you’re doing.  No one ever does on their first day.
• Utilize the skills you picked up in your last role and use them to your advantage.
  • Example: If you were the go-to scheduling assistant in your last company and knew anything and everything Outlook-related, don’t be shy! Offer up your services to the team! They might even thank you for it.
  • Ask for training of any kind. Whether that be the opportunity to shadow someone who has been successful in your current role or enrolling in some type of online training session…DO IT!
  • Leverage your old connections in your new role.
    • Example: Let’s say you worked cross-functionally in your previous position. Don’t lose touch with the people you worked with in other organizations. They could be useful resources for you in your new position.
    • “Fake it until you make it.” Be confident. Absorb all you can and eventually you’ll get the hang of things.

Some people struggle with change, while others thrive. The important thing to remember is that you have to move at your own pace. Don’t judge your ability to adapt by comparing yourself to others. You were brought into your role because you have a skill set that is needed in your business. The same could be said for you moving into a new role. The key is to remember you add value in one way or another. So keep that in mind when changes occur, and you’ll be able to roll with the punches easily!

Lastly: coffee, a good night’s sleep, and friendships in the office make the world of difference. Don’t forget the little things.