Peak Performers by Tiffany Uman

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How to win in your first 90 days

March 31, 2025

Thank you for joining my Peak Performers newsletter! Every Monday, we share practical tips and scripts to help you land the roles you want, thrive with confidence at work and grow faster.

Starting a new job is a big deal.

Whether you’re stepping into a new company, taking on a bigger role, or transitioning internally, the first 90 days will define how you’re perceived, what you’re known for, and how fast you grow.

It’s not just about what you do, it’s how you do it.

These early days are your chance to set the tone, build key relationships, and demonstrate your value, all before you even feel fully confident.

That’s exactly what I coach my clients to do. Many have fast-tracked promotions, doubled their salary, or built top-tier reputations within months of starting.

Here are the 10 strategies that make the biggest difference. Let's dig in.

10 ways to succeed in a new role

1/ Clarify how success is defined and measured

Don't wait to be told how you're being evaluated. Ask your manager directly:
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​“What does success look like within the first 30 to 60 days in my new role?"
“What are the top 3 priorities I should focus on?”
"Are there certain milestones you'd like me to hit?"
"What would make the difference between me meeting vs. exceeding your expectations in my role?"​
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​ Why it works: You align early and avoid wasted effort.

2/ Set up 1:1s immediately

Your first few weeks should be relationship-heavy.

Do not make the mistake of getting caught up in the weeds. Build the right support system and allies early on who can be great resources for you and fill in the gaps of your learning curve.

Book intro meetings with key team members, cross-functional partners, and stakeholders.

Pro tip: Ask your boss who they recommend you prioritize meeting with first so that it supports the objectives you're evaluated against. Once you meet with them, ask them what’s working, what’s not, and how you can best support them.

Example: "I know we will be working closely together. What metrics are most important for you in the success of your role, and how can I support you in achieving that?".

Why it works: People support those who take time to understand them and respect what's been done prior to your arrival.

​Our client leaned into this in the first week of starting her new role and built immediate trust and rapport with her team and stakeholders.

3/ Manage your manager

Don’t assume your boss will proactively manage you.
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Clarify how they prefer to communicate, when they want updates, and where they want to be involved.

For example:
​"Which form of communication is best to exchange with you?"
"How should I reach you in case of urgencies?"
"Can we have a weekly status to align on priorities, where I can also consolidate my updates for you?"
"In which areas of my work do I have full autonomy and on which would you like me to keep you involved?"

Example: "I want to ensure we communicate most effectively together so knowing how you prefer to have those exchanges is really helpful. Outside of our 1:1 weekly status meetings, do you want me to leverage email or MS teams for updates or approvals I need from you?"​
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​Why it works: You reduce friction, build trust, and make their life easier.

[Check out my recent newsletter on How to communicate updates to your boss]

4/ Get early wins

Identify low-hanging fruits where you can add value fast.
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Solve a problem, fix a broken process, or bring clarity to something that’s unclear.
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Ask others what their biggest pain point is right now. Take the time to understand where there may be frustrations, inefficiencies, opportunities for improvement, etc...
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If you also hear enough of the same type of answer, this helps you uncover patterns that make a low-hanging fruit more prominent. Action those ones first.

Why it works: Quick wins build confidence in you before trust is fully formed.

5/ Ask for feedback weekly

Don’t wait for a review for feedback. Prompt this yourself.

Feedback should be always-on, especially in your first 90 days.

You don't want to get so far into your role or projects without ensuring you're on the right track with respect to your boss's expectations. When in doubt, ask. Doing so will also help you feel validated and more confident in your position rather than overthinking about whether you're are doing a good job.
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Ask:
“What’s one thing I could improve this week?”
“What’s something I’ve done well that I should keep doing?”
“With regards to X project, should I be focusing more on A or B for this next part?"
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Why it works: Feedback fast-tracks your learning curve and shows humility.

6/ Observe the culture, then adapt

Every team has unspoken rules: how decisions are made, how meetings are run, and how credit is given.
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Don’t come in trying to overhaul everything. No one likes that person. Instead, learn first, then act.

This is especially important in understanding meeting structure. Take the time with your boss and team to gain clarity on what the typical meetings include; their cadence, the required involvement from you and how to approach next steps that arise from them.

This will allow you to speak up more confidently, while also actively contribute to the conversations. Plus, it will avoid feeling lost in these settings when you're building your perception and reputation early on.
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​Why it works: Respect earns influence. Influence enables impact.

7/ Communicate proactively

Keep your manager and teammates in the loop.
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Share weekly updates, flag risks early, and speak up in meetings even if you're new.

Clear and open communication will allow you to prevent miscommunications, overlap of work or unnecessary inefficiencies.

Don't minimize this either with support functions who are outside of your immediate team and likely have different priorities than you, but with whom you need to work with closely.
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For example, if you're in marketing and work closely with supply chain to bring products to market, you'll need to be clear on what their processes, requirements and deadlines are to avoid surprises that backfire on your deliverables.
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​Why it works: Open, clear communication avoids miscommunications that could work against you.

This is exactly what our client did within the first month of joining her new company. She even leveraged this with her VP where she was recognized and appreciated for taking initiative. This has already positioned her on a fast-track growth path internally.

8/ Protect your time

In a new role, it’s easy to say yes to everything in an effort to prove yourself.
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Instead, clarify your top priorities, push back on distractions, and use your calendar with intention.

Your time is your most precious asset. Others may willingly, or unwillingly, take advantage of it.

For example, you may be asked to complete tasks that fall outside your responsibilities but for which you don't know any better since you're new. Loop in your boss for clarity before committing.

Example: "Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I'd like to help on this but it does overlap with my current priorities. I can check with my boss if this is something I should be taking on as I believe it falls outside of my scope. I'll come back to you with an answer by tomorrow."
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​Why it works: Focus leads to better results and avoids burnout.
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[Check out my newsletter on Stop wasting time: 3 strategies you need]

9/ Don’t try to prove yourself overnight

Pacing is everything.
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You don’t need to solve every problem in week one. Nor do you want to come on too strong at once.

This can create a dangerous precedent of what your true capacity is and that becomes harder to backpedal from if you take on too much, too soon.
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Instead, show up with curiosity, consistency, and a clear strategy.

Example: "I understand the urgency of these 5 projects and I want to ensure I deliver at a high level of quality. Could we review each of them so I have a better sense of prioritization this week and next?"
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​Why it works: Sustainable performance matters more than spreading yourself thin.

10/ Build your personal brand from day one

Everything you say, do, and follow through on builds your reputation.
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Decide what you want to be known for, what strengths to leverage and show up that way every day.

Beyond doing great work, building your visibility with key decision makers is key.

Ask yourself:
"What do I want people to say about me when I'm not in the room?"
"What qualities and transversal skills should I lean into the most to perform in my role?"
"How can I showcase my strengths in my weekly updates with my boss?"
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​Why it works: You shape how people talk about you when you’re not in the room. Be intentional.

You've got this!

P.S. If you're looking to land a better role, check out my recent workshop👇

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​This week’s mission: If you want to win your first 90 days, it starts with clarity, connection, and consistency. Here are 3 actions to take this week to build momentum in a new role:

• Book 3 stakeholder intros. Reach out to key team members or cross-functional partners and set up short intro calls. Use them to understand their goals, challenges, and how you can best support them.
• Ask your boss for a 30-60-90 alignment. Clarify how success is measured and what milestones they expect. Don’t assume, ask. This sets the tone for focused, aligned execution.
• Get 1 piece of feedback. Ask someone you’ve worked with this week: “What’s one thing I could do even better next time?” The faster you learn, the faster you grow.
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