This is the concluding part of Bodam’s interview. You can read the first part here, if you haven’t.
How do you transition into new jobs? What practices have helped you ramp up quickly and be successful?
Ask questions! Understand what success means in that role and for that organization. Draw up a plan for how you can get early and quick wins and make yourself relevant. Ask more questions! Understand the company’s culture – do they prefer e-mails or verbal communication, for example. Are people more meetings-oriented, or do they have impromptu conversations on-the-go? What’s the culture like? Are they on a first-name basis or more formal? Who are your critical stakeholders in that role? Introduce yourself to them and find out a bit about how they work and their own internal processes. A really useful book is “The First 90 Days” by Michael Watkins – I’d recommend it to new managers, anyone who has got a new job or even changed roles within an organization.
Has there ever been a time you weren’t sure what the next steps in your career should be? What did you do then?
I knew I needed a change, but I wasn’t sure to what. First, I wanted to move into brand management but it wasn’t happening and I felt stuck. I told everyone who would listen about how I wanted to change roles and how I was ready to move to new challenges. A couple of vacancies (in-house and external) opened up so I applied and went on a couple of interviews. I spoke to people I trusted about next steps, and of course I prayed for a lot for clarity. Eventually, HR gave me an option that was completely different from anything I’d ever done and was completely terrifying, but I closed my eyes and said yes! I’ve realized that having breadth in your career helps. I think the days of being a one-trick pony are behind us, and to become a better manager, it’s beneficial if you have a wide range of opportunities.
How do you find balance? What are your tips for work-life blending?
This is the age-old question. Honestly, it depends on what is important to you. I became quite militant about the time I gave my organization. With the exception of a 6-month period where I had no closing times and no weekends, I have worked out a schedule in my jobs that work for me. Currently, I try to leave the office at 5:00pm and even if all I’m doing is going home, it helps me breathe and balance. I don’t work at all on the weekends and it’s a trend I want to continue. Taking time to do my hair and nails is important – these are periods of reflection, (power naps!) and relaxation for me. I spend time with my family, at church, at social events, with close friends, at dinner (either with friends or by myself), the periodic spa sessions and so on. In this season, my peace of mind is extremely important to me, so I am guarding it jealously.
A note of caution – every season is different and it’s up to us to realise the season we’re in. Some seasons will have you working much harder because you need to meet a deadline, launch a new product or do something else that’s timebound. Some other seasons will be more relaxed and allow you plan your time and your life better. Recognise the season and plan your life around that season, being very practical and very mindful of your own current situation. If you can exercise, this is a beautiful way to control stress – or so I’ve heard… I struggle with getting regular exercise in, but my sister vouches for its efficacy. 😊
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were starting your career? What advice would you give your younger self? What’s the one thing you’re glad you did in your first few jobs?
I wish I knew you can’t ever win a fight against your line manager…. NEVER! So don’t even bother. There’s a reason we’re advised to learn how to manage our line managers; it’s a very critical skill that I wish I’d learnt much earlier.
One piece of advice I’d give my younger self would be: know when to walk away. Sometimes, it’s just not worth holding onto a job. I was in quite a bad situation at work and I allowed the situation change me into something and someone I’m not usually. It took me a while to recover from that. For starters, some people who never met the former Bodam, met this person who I didn’t even recognize. I also started questioning myself, my capabilities, my knowledge and my worth and when I reflect upon that period, I conclude that if I need to do that season again, if I can’t adjust my mind to deal with the situation in a way that’s beneficial to me, then I’d take the option to walk away.
The one thing I’m glad I did in my first few jobs is establish myself as a woman of excellence. I delivered excellent results once I put my head down. I was (still am!) a very hard worker and it gave me great pride to deliver on tasks given to me.
