The importance of building allies within your organization

Starting a new job in a new company can be both exciting and daunting. As a new product leader, one of the most critical tasks is building allies within the organization to help you achieve your goals. These allies will not only provide support and guidance but also help you navigate the internal politics of the organization. Here are two pieces of advice for building allies in an organization when joining a new firm.

Identify the Needs of Key Stakeholders and How a New Product Leader Could Help

The first step in building allies is to understand the needs of key stakeholders. A stakeholder is any individual or group that has an interest in the success of the product or project that you will be leading. These stakeholders may include other departments within the organization, customers, partners, or investors.

To identify the needs of key stakeholders, you should map out the key players who influence the organization. In addition to the C-suite, this can include department heads, board members, investors, and trusted, long-time employees. You should also conduct research and gather information on the company, its products, and its competitors. This will give you a good understanding of the company's strategic goals, priorities, and challenges. Then schedule meetings with stakeholders to learn more about their needs, pain points, and priorities.

Once you have identified the needs of key stakeholders, you should think about how your skills and expertise as a new product leader can help address those needs. For example, if the marketing team needs help with messaging and positioning, you can leverage your expertise in product marketing to create a cohesive messaging strategy.

Seek and Obtain Their Help (in a Small Way)

The second step in building allies is to seek and obtain their help. However, it is important to start small and build trust over time. You should look for small ways to demonstrate your value and build a positive relationship with your stakeholders. This can be as simple as asking for their input on a project or seeking their advice on a particular issue.

By seeking their help, you are showing that you value their input and expertise. This can help build trust and establish a positive working relationship. As you continue to work with them, you can start to build on these small wins and seek their help on more significant projects.

Building allies in an organization is critical to your success

In summary, building allies in an organization when joining a new firm is critical to your success as a new product leader. By identifying the needs of key stakeholders and seeking their help in a small way, you can establish positive working relationships that will help you achieve your goals. Remember to be patient, persistent, and respectful, and over time, you will build a network of allies that will support your success.