The First 60 Days

Time flies when you’re having fun! I just hit the 2 month mark at my new position, and it has been an exciting and interesting whirlwind. I wanted to share some lessons learned from my first 60 days in a new role.

How It Started...

When I started at JLL, I had a vision of hitting the ground running, publicly declaring my fast-learning abilities, and identifying the top team member so I knew who my competition was. I had big plans to jump in, master everything quickly, and rise as an autonomous top performer.

How It’s Going...

Welp… I was way off! What I actually encountered was a huge learning curve and entirely different culture than I expected. There were many new areas of expertise I needed to study, practice, and master. I also experienced culture shock, because this new environment is much less competitive and has a greater focus on support and shared knowledge.

Here are a few key takeaways that can help when you start a new role:

• Plan to Adapt. This is my favorite lesson because for all of my fellow stubborn folk, we often like to stick to the first plan or idea in our heads. Instead, you should enter the situation with the expectation that it WILL be different than you envisioned. Take 10 minutes after your first week to reflect on how the reality was different than your expectations, adjust your gameplan, and repeat!

• Share your vision with your manager. You may have heard the Lil Wayne lyric “real G’s move in silence like lasagna.” While this advice is sometimes great, this is NOT the time to move silently and keep your plan to yourself. If you have a vision to reach a certain revenue goal, master a skill, or achieve a promotion, I recommend that you explicitly describe this vision to your manager. As soon as possible. Your manager will know what it takes to be successful in your endeavors, and you can work together to customize a strategy that propels you forward.

• Stay organized. Your first 2 months in a new role will be an information overload! From memorizing names and new concepts to understanding clients’ needs, you’ll need a consistent method of organizing notes. I am a huge fan of Microsoft OneNote. I have a tab for every client and sub-tab for every topic. I also like to add time-sensitive tasks from my OneNote to my Outlook calendar. However you choose to organize, it will ease the overwhelm and prepare you for the months and years to come.

• Make time to listen. At this point in your new role, almost everyone around you knows more about the company than you. If you’re remote, set up a Zoom call at least twice a week with someone new on your team to learn about their experience and best practices. In the office, grab lunch or coffee with someone who’s been at the company for 10 years, 5 years, 1 year etc. This will help you understand the culture, start to build meaningful relationships, and further inform your strategic vision for success.

Overall, I have loved my new job as an Energy & Sustainability Manager! I get to help clients reduce their carbon footprint and achieve their ambitious sustainability goals. I have learned to adapt to my new environment as a remote consultant and I’m steadily climbing the learning curve mountain. A new job can be scary, but if you approach it with a flexible gameplan and an open mind, you will find success in no time!

Be Great,

Jada Davis

Thoughts? Questions? Comments?

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