Starting a new role is one of the most energizing and disorienting experiences you can have in your career. You walk in with a fresh title, fresh expectations, and a fresh chance to redefine how you show up. But you also walk into a maze of unfamiliar processes, new teammates, shifting priorities, and the unspoken dynamics that truly determine how effective you’ll be.
I’m in that exact space right now. I recently stepped into a new job, and it reminded me just how important it is to approach new roles with intentionality. Not frenzy. Not pressure. Intentionality.
Salespeople, especially, can feel the weight of needing to “prove it” quickly. But the sellers who last — and the ones who actually accelerate faster — are the ones who slow down long enough to build a foundation that can carry the weight of their goals.
Here are the five concrete things I’m doing in my first stretch of this new role. These aren’t theories or platitudes. These are the actual steps that make a new chapter work.
1. Establish a 30/60/90 plan — and share it with your manager
Most onboarding programs talk about 30/60/90 plans, but far fewer people actually own their plan. The point of the plan isn’t to impress your manager; the point is to give structure to the chaos.
I created mine before the end of week one, and I shared it with my manager so we could align expectations early. Clear priorities eliminate guesswork. And if something changes (it will), we adjust the plan together instead of drifting into misalignment.
2. Identify the “critical few” people you must build relationships with
In every org, there are people who quietly control the flow of information, influence, and success. Titles won’t tell you who they are. Actions will.
I set up 15–20 minute intros with:
- Cross-functional partners
- People who consistently interact with customers
- Anyone whose work touches mine
Then I asked each one, “If I want to succeed here, who else do I need to know?”
It’s amazing how quickly you can map out a new ecosystem when you follow those threads.
3. Become a student of the product — fast
Salespeople can’t afford to ramp slowly on product knowledge. Customers won’t wait for you to “get up to speed.”
In my first two weeks, I committed to:
- Running my own demo flow, end to end
- Testing edge cases in the product
- Reviewing competitive analysis
- Listening to customer calls to learn real objections
If you want to build credibility quickly, competence is the fastest path.
4. Learn how success is measured before you chase it
One of the easiest ways to fail in a new role is to assume you know how success will be evaluated.
I asked my manager and team:
- What metrics matter most here?
- What behaviors are rewarded?
- What does “good” look like at this company?
- What surprised you when you started?
Understanding the scoreboard keeps you from focusing on the wrong plays.
5. Don’t try to fix everything — choose two things you can meaningfully improve
New people often arrive with big energy and big ideas. That’s great, but it can become noise if you try to overhaul everything at once.
Instead, I look for two things:
- One workflow that I can simplify
- One initiative where I can add immediate value
Small wins build trust. Trust creates momentum. Momentum creates space for bigger impact later.
Starting fresh isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being intentional. There’s power in the early days of a new chapter, but only if you channel it with focus and curiosity.
If you’re stepping into something new — or preparing to — try these five steps and see how much stronger, and calmer, your foundation feels.
