Occasionally, your initial day at a new job establishes the atmosphere for the remainder of your time there.
This is why Snap co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel assigns an extremely challenging assignment to members of his design team when they start on their first day, as mentioned on Monday. podcast episode Of "The Diary of a CEO."
"Once a week, we spend a few hours conducting design reviews," explained Spiegel, who is 34 years old and heads the company behind the social media application Snapchat. "On your inaugural day, you must make a presentation... Clearly, on your first day, without understanding what projects the firm is currently tackling... It seems nearly unattainable to generate a solid concept," he remarked.
This approach might appear unjust, yet it paves the way for developing the creative and analytical abilities employees require to thrive within the organization, as stated by Spiegel. Additionally, this method assists individuals in swiftly overcoming their apprehension towards failing, thereby motivating them to embrace greater workplace risks.
"He mentioned that his biggest concern became reality as we were all gathered, examining an idea that wasn’t particularly impressive. While some of these ideas can be quite decent, most often they fall short. However, this situation actually paves the way for creativity since failure has already occurred and you’ve moved past it.”
The workout aids individuals in developing self-assurance and psychological toughness, and also serves as a form of team-building for staff members, according to Spiegel.
Conquering a fear of failure—or any other fear—can be consistently difficult. Strategies that prove effective might seem absurd, such as mimicking a humorous dialect when talking to the inner voice or simply embracing oneself, yet these methods tend to succeed. If they can "interrupt" the pattern within your mind. , phobia specialist Christopher Paul Jones informed DIWIDAMake It on July 1.
Confronting your fears directly can also be effective. as stated by leadership consultant and former Navy SEAL officer Jocko Willink.
"What you must understand is that much of your fear doesn’t reflect reality; it’s merely constructed in your mind,” Willink stated in February 2019. “To conquer this fear, you should confront it directly. Examine it closely. Take initiative.”
'We're all born creative'
Conquering the fear of failing on your initial day at work might seem intimidating, particularly when you have a room full of new coworkers watching. Regardless of whether you're immediately faced with a challenging scenario or not, you can ease your first-day nerves by doing some preparatory groundwork beforehand.
As a newcomer, you can achieve significant and rapid influence by grasping your organization’s mission and discovering precisely how your position contributes to this vision, according to Lori Castillo Martinez, who serves as the executive vice president of talent, growth, and development at Salesforce. said in October 2024 Therefore, discuss with the hiring manager their expectations and the company culture as part of your job interview. Also, converse with either a present or past worker for insights. on LinkedIn or provide your email address before your first day.
When you find yourself needing to generate a fresh, innovative concept spontaneously, you’ll be better equipped to offer something significant. “It’s beneficial to experiment and stay curious, embracing the chance to define your role and determine the effect you aspire to have as a newcomer,” noted Castillo Martinez.
Even if your concept ends up in the 99% category of not-so-great ideas, you will still acquire valuable experience, according to Spiegel.
He stated, 'The most effective way to come up with a solid concept is by producing numerous ideas.' Thus, the team continuously develops a wide range of concepts, items, and functionalities... It’s our responsibility to identify which among these standouts truly shine.'
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