Professional social networking site LinkedIn is asking successful people in the world of business to influence and advise site users on how to thrive and survive in the workplace. General Motors CEO Mary Barra was happy to oblige, centering her focus on the all-important first 90 days of a new job.
The #First90 essay of workplace advice is perhaps more prevalent now than it ever could have been, as the millennial generation in particular is anticipated to have to change jobs a lot more than their parents. They’ll be seeing those “first 90 days” more than once.
Barra’s advice seemed to mostly cater to any worker in a position where they must work on a team or supervise others, but her guidance is sound no matter where one ends up spending their #First90. “Put the customer at the center of everything you do,” is the title of her first heading, followed by advice regarding how to listen to and strengthen your team, and how to adapt and learn to changing situations – all of which is crucial to at least contemplate as soon as you take your new position, she says.
But perhaps the most prevalent bit of advice from her own personal experiences regards taking personal responsibility, even when you’ve inherited someone else’s goof-up, and not “dismiss[ing] it as the last person’s legacy.” It’s largely because of her own ability to do this upon taking the GM reins that’s made her such a high-profile, worthy executive.
You can read Mary Barra’s entire #First90 advisory post on LinkedIn.
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Adapt and learn. I think the “learn” is the most important because no matter what, you never stop learning because you will never know everything, each time you meet a person or customer, you learn something new either about them or life in general.