Congratulations to anyone who has changed jobs recently. The healthcare CIO job market is turbulent, and if you have found your next best job, that is wonderful news.
Did you find adjusting to a new environment, new work colleagues, and different policies and procedures uneventful or full of stress? As someone who has made a job change recently, I can relate to candidates that I have placed and the transition turbulence I put them through. As the “new kid on the block,” whether it is your first CIO role or your tenth, what can you do to ease the transition to your new workplace? Here are some suggestions.
Introductions
During the first week, you will be introduced to many new colleagues and staff. Make eye contact, and like Dale Carnegie, do your best to remember names. Your professionalism, leadership, and communication skills will be in good use during the first week. Seek out the real power brokers; they may be the receptionists, support staff, and long-time employees. Encourage “open door” communications and build relationships with every level of staff, from executives, clinicians, and support.
Culture adjustments
Observe the new company’s culture during your first week in the office. Maybe your previous place of employment included unstructured verbal meetings in the hall; now, perhaps your new employer is more formal with scheduled face-to-face meetings. Is dress more formal? Are people busy and productive? Remember, office politics are common everywhere and you will need to do your best to fit in, be supportive, outgoing, and positive, and exude confidence and integrity.
Team building
One of the great ways to transition into a new position is to recruit one or more of your old team members to follow you to your new company. If not, take your new team members to lunch, meet them individually, and build their trust and your credibility. They need to find out your talents and why you were hired as their leader.
Seek and learn
Beware of clinging to past outdated ways or processes in your new firm. One of the best reasons to join a new organization is to branch out, think bigger, and expand your learning. If you attended the HIMSS12 Conference last week, you can take that learning experience and share with new colleagues who were not able to attend.
Set your plans
Starting a new position gives you the momentum and energy to set and accomplish a 30-day or even a 90-day set of goals. Your new employer hired you for your expertise, reputation, and leadership, and to gain maximum credibility. Take advantage of your grace period to exhibit your abilities.
Healthcare IT is a growing industry but is amazingly small. Your career will touch many individuals at all types of healthcare organizations. Be positive toward your previous bosses and colleagues; they represent your professional network, and if they hired you at your new job, be grateful for not burning any bridges in the past.
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