Surviving the First 90 Days in a Business Development Role: Tips and Strategies

Surviving the First 90 Days in a Business Development Role: Tips and Strategies

Congratulations, you’ve landed your dream business development job and are about to embark on the journey of your lifetime! No doubt, these first few months are going to be crucial. The pressure to succeed will be overwhelming, but by following the right tips and strategies, you can not only survive but thrive in your new role.

In this article, we will discuss some of the best practices for surviving your first 90 days in a business development role.

1. Understand the Business and Its Goals

The first step to succeeding in any role is to understand the business you are working for and its objectives. As a business development executive, your job is to help the company achieve its goals. Take the time to read the company’s history, mission statement, and values. Understand what the company does, its revenue streams, customers, and competitors.

2. Build Relationships

Success in a business development role is driven by relationships. Take the time to build strong relationships with your colleagues, managers, customers, and other stakeholders. Engage in conversations and participate in activities, both inside and outside of work. This will help you build key relationships that can help you succeed in your role.

3. Set Realistic Goals

Set achievable goals for yourself. Focus on what you can realistically achieve in your first 90 days. Prioritize those goals, and work diligently to achieve them. By setting realistic goals, you can build momentum and get the quick wins that are required to gain confidence and establish yourself in your new role.

4. Understand Your Customers

Customers are central to a business development role. It is essential to understand their needs, pain points, and decision-making processes. Speak to customers, research their needs and buying habits, and stay up to date on industry trends. This will help you put together a plan to build relationships with them, increase sales, and ultimately contribute to the growth of the business.

5. Build a Strong Network

Networking is vital to the success of any business development professional. Attend conferences, industry events, and webinars. Get involved in social media and other online platforms to stay connected with industry leaders and professionals. By building a strong network, you can create opportunities for yourself, as well as your business.

6. Learn from Your Mistakes

Mistakes are an inevitable part of any new job. To truly survive and thrive in your role, you must be willing to learn from your mistakes. Take feedback from your colleagues and managers and use it to improve your performance. Analyze where things went wrong and, more importantly, how you can avoid similar mistakes in the future.

7. Continuously Learn and Develop

To grow and succeed in your business development role, continuous learning is necessary. Stay up to date with industry trends, technologies, and best practices. Consider taking courses or attending seminars to develop new skills. By continuously improving your knowledge and skills, you become a more valuable asset to your organization.

In conclusion, the first 90 days of any new job can be overwhelming, but with the right approach, you can not only survive but thrive in your business development role. Take the time to understand the business and its objectives, build strong relationships, set realistic goals, understand your customers, build a strong network, learn from your mistakes, and continuously learn and develop. By following these tips and strategies, you put yourself in an excellent position to achieve success in your new role.