Show your workings out: Navigating a new role in a matrixed organisation

Starting a new role can feel like standing at the base of a mountain with no clear path up. You want to make an impact. Fast. The pressure to “transform” everything overnight - or to boil the ocean, as the saying goes - can be overwhelming.

What if the most valuable thing you can do in those early weeks isn’t to change everything, but to simply show your workings out?

I love this phrase. It reminds me of school maths problems, where getting full marks wasn’t just about the right answer, it was about demonstrating how you got there. It turns out, that same principle applies in complex, highly matrixed organisations. Especially in marketing, where influence often relies more on alignment than authority.

There’s a quote from Barack Obama that’s always stuck with me:

“Just learn how to get stuff done.”

It sounds simple; but it’s profound. In messy, collaborative environments, the real power lies not in what you say, but in what you do.

Barack Obama 2023 quote

So what does that look like in practice when you’re the new person?

Be the Person Who Goes

Don’t wait for permission to contribute. Take initiative. Reach out. Join the dots. Be the person who’s out there learning, meeting, connecting - and crucially, sharing what you’re doing.

Here are a few practical actions I’ve found helpful:

• Expand your network: Make time to meet people, not just in your direct team but across departments. Everyone holds a piece of the puzzle.

• Come to the table with a growth mindset: Assume there’s always more to learn. Stay curious.

• Listen to understand: Don’t rush to diagnose or fix. Let people share their context.

• Ask all the questions: One of your superpowers when you’re new is the license to not know. Use it. Say when you don’t understand something.

And then, most importantly: be visible.

“Show Your Workings Out”

In a fast-paced and politically complex organisation, your progress might not always be obvious. That’s why it’s so important to narrate your journey. Let people see your thinking, who you’re connecting with, and how you’re building your understanding.

These aren’t just activities - they’re signals. They show you’re building a platform and being proactive.

This might look like:

• Recapping who you’ve met and what you’ve learned in a team update

• Sharing early observations or themes you’re spotting

• Mapping your understanding in a visual or narrative format to invite input

It doesn’t have to be polished or final. In fact, showing your draft thinking invites collaboration - and helps build trust.

You don’t need to “transform” everything in your first 30 days. You don’t need to have all the answers. What you do need is to show that you’re listening, learning, and laying the groundwork to get stuff done.

Because that’s what leadership really is: not just saying the right things, but doing the right things - and letting others see how you’re doing it.