Q&A
FIGHT OR
FLIGHT
Feeling uneasy in a new role is natural.
Resisting the urge to flee may take work.
BY LINDSAY SCOTT
Q: I’ve spent the first two months in my new project manager position wondering if taking this job was the wrong decision. How long should I ride out my uncertainty? A: Several factors could make you wonder if you’ve made a bad choice: n Your depth of knowledge and experience is too limited for the role, and you are struggling to carry out the work.
n You were attracted to the role for all the wrong reasons—money, prestige,
boredom with your past post—but don’t find the work engaging.
n The company culture is at odds with your personality.
n A lack of familiarity is increasing your anxiety and distracting you from
your work.
But two months in a new position is not enough time to know if the job is
a good fit. Most people start to feel comfortable around the six-month mark.
At two months, you are on a learning curve, and—depending on how
different this role is from your previous one—it could be very steep. Instead
of wasting energy and angst by debating whether or not to jump ship, make
a mental commitment to hit your six-month mark. Here are a few strategies
for approaching this position with an open mind.
focus on faces
A new position at a new company requires skills beyond your technical
project management ones. To gain more confidence in your role, you’ll have
to network with a new set of colleagues and familiarize yourself with the
company’s culture and processes.
If you’re thrown into a project, schedule time to talk to department leaders, such as the finance director, who can provide insight on how project
teams operate within the organization. Recognize that six months or a year
from now, you might schedule only half as many meetings, but talking to
as many stakeholders and team members as possible early on will help you
acclimate to the new organization and feel less adrift.
set new exPectations
Even the best recruitment process can leave us with false expectations. Just as it
is difficult for candidates to fully convey who they are and what they offer during
an interview, organizations may paint a rushed
and inaccurate portrait of the position.
Keep an open mind as your perception is
replaced by the reality of your new role. It can
sometimes help to remind yourself why you took
the position and to keep track of the unexpected
perks you discover as you settle into the job.
Of course, if you feel there is a significant gap
between the role you were hired for and the job
you’re in, schedule a meeting with your manager.
Pause Before fast-forwarding
Making the wrong move is an incredibly common career mistake, and it doesn’t have to define
your career—unless you fail to learn from your
mistake. Before you leap into your next position—
and potentially another wrong role—start with a
self-assessment.
What have you loved and loathed from past
jobs? Whether you thrived at a huge organization
or relished managing technical projects, identifying those elements will make it easier to find a
better fit in the future.
Once you’re in the interview process, perform
due diligence. Ask about the person you will
report to, the company’s culture and values, and
how projects are managed. If you’re offered a
position but have lingering questions, ask to meet
with the people who can give you answers.
Organizations, like you, want to find the best
fit possible. Taking the time to explore can help
ensure that, two months into your new role,
you’re happy to be there. PM
Lindsay Scott is the director of program
and project management at Arras People in
London, England. Send career questions to
pmnetwork@imaginepub.com.
