Management Tip of the Day :Don’t Overpromise on Your New Job

Sep 3,2013

When taking on a new role, it can be tempting to list out all of the grand things you plan to accomplish in your first year.

 But be careful before you make any hard commitments. 

It’s better to underpromise and overdeliver. 

You don’t know what unforeseen obstacles may get in your way—the organization’s resistance to change, for example. 

Be conservative when setting expectations with your new boss and other stakeholders.

 If you deliver more results, you will delight them. But if you promise too much and fall short, you risk undermining your credibility. 

Even if you successfully complete a great number of projects, but don’t do everything on your list, you will have failed in their eyes. 

Adapted from The First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded.