Situation 4: Changing Jobs
When you’ve been in a job for a while, you’re known. And that eases all your interactions. The people around you automatically grant you a certain level of support and cooperation.

But when you get a promotion or a transfer – or perhaps take a job at a different company – you may suddenly be working with strangers. No matter how stellar your reputation, it will take time to establish yourself. You’ll need new strategies to gain the support and cooperation that were granted you as a matter of course in your old job. It’s also important to recognize that the stakes are especially high any time you change jobs. Early successes can earn you the benefit of the doubt for years to come, while a few early missteps can permanently brand you as ineffective, uncooperative, passive or indecisive.

You’ll want to go into any job change with a well-considered influence strategy...one tailored specifically to succeeding in your exciting but dangerous stretch as the “new kid on the block.”

Influence strategy: Respectful and thoughtful use of “pull” style influence skills will help you quickly learn the new terrain. Craft your questions not only to earn high-gain answers, but to convey positive qualities about yourself as well. (“The new kid asks smart questions.”) Invite your new colleagues to advise you as you shape your agenda for the new job. Actively listen to all that you’re told. Look beneath the surface information for clues about the culture of your new workplace and the personalities of your coworkers, so you can begin to shape influence style strategies most likely to prove effective with each. Don’t be shy about offering your ideas, or about admitting when you need help.