According to Gartner surveys, 49 percent of people promoted within their own companies are underperforming up to 18 months later. McKinsey reports that 27 to 46 percent of executives who transition to new roles are seen as failures or disappointments two years later. 

Their companies saw fit to promote them. They had the right skills and experience. They understood the company. And yet they still didn’t succeed quickly in their new positions.

The first weeks and months of a new job are often seen as a grace period, when in fact, it’s a critical time that puts you on the road to success in your new role—or not. 

One of my career superpowers has been to hit the ground running in a new role and get some quick wins on the board. In a very diverse career that has spanned multiple industries—media, transportation, defense and aviation, nonprofit, civil rights, politics, government, entrepreneurship and healthcare—that’s been an important skill to have! On top of that, each of my roles has had very little to do with the previous role, in both sector and function.

You can have that superpower, too—by moving fast when you start a new role and growing during that grace period. Here are 8 ways to grow quickly in a new role: 

Own your onboarding. Companies are not good at onboarding, not in the ways that matter. HR can’t onboard you onto the soft power relationships that spell the difference between success and underperformance. Rarely will a company create the opportunities you need to build relationships in your new role. 

Identify and seek out the influencers. An influencer is not necessarily a leader. CEOs and vice presidents come and go, but the company culture remains the same, right? It’s not the leadership who own the culture. Identify the long-time employees who know what’s going on in the company and who have the ear of their coworkers. They are the influencers. Get to know them, understand what their focus is, and understand what their goals are. Then invest in their work and ideas. Connecting with the influencers is also a way to socialize and normalize your authentic self within the organization’s culture.

Know the company’s culture for decision-making. Are they top-down or collaborative? Do they like lots of processes or group think? You’re unlikely to change it, so you’ll need to adapt. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to carefully evaluate potential new opportunities to make sure the organization aligns with your most important values. 

Listen first and listen actively. When you’re an “other” or an “only,” you know you’ve got a lot to prove. It’s tempting to blast right out of the gate and talk about your credentials and qualifications. But listen first, then bring your value add. When you actively listen, you repeat back what the other person is saying—and you affirm to them that they are heard and acknowledged. This is a powerful shortcut to building trust in a relationship. 

Introduce your brand. Whether you’re an individual or an organization, a brand tells people when to choose you. You want people to know what you can do and how you do it, so they know when to come to you with projects.

Identify how you bring value. Your career can be divided into three buckets: education and certification, performance based on your skills and strengths, and your reputation and network. Your value may not lie only in the “doing.” What is your ability to advise the company, based on your experience and insight?

Don’t go solo right away. You’ve made your list of influencers and leaders. You know who does what in the organization. If you want to be a fast mover and integrate quickly into a new role, now is the time to harness the power of those people. Run your ideas by them. Ask for their ideas and input. Enlist them in the implementation. Yes, this might take more time than just doing it by yourself, but this is not the time to go it alone. 
Deliver on small successes. It’s easier to deliver on the small stuff, especially at the beginning when taking on big projects might ruffle some feathers or get people gunning for you. Find a place where you can help someone else with their job. Look for projects that are small but valued by others and where you can deliver success within three to six months. Word of mouth—other people talking about how you delivered for them—is more powerful than trying to be a dazzling superstar by yourself.