Moving into a new role can feel exciting and slightly terrifying, like switching from driving a familiar route to merging onto a highway you’ve never been on before.
If you’re considering a leap into a new environment, here are six factors to think through before you say "yes" (or before you update your LinkedIn headline).
1. Independence: How much room will you have?
Every workplace has its own version of "autonomy". In some roles, you’ll be trusted to set direction and run with it. In others, you’ll be expected to execute decisions made elsewhere.
Ask directly: What decisions will be mine? What decisions will I influence? What decisions are already decided before they reach me?
2. Influence: Don’t confuse title with power
Titles mean wildly different things depending on the organization. A "Head of" in one place might drive strategy. In another, it might mean "chief plate-spinner".
Look for the people with deep history and credibility. Build relationships early, listen hard, and learn how decisions really get made. Influence is earned faster when people feel respected, not "managed".
3. Success measures: What does “good” look like here?
You’ll be accountable for results, but the scoreboard may be different than what you’re used to. Some cultures reward speed. Others reward consensus. Some track everything. Others… track vibes.
Before you start, clarify what success looks like in the first 30, 60, and 90 days. And ask how accountability works on this team, in this organization, with these leaders.
4. Cultural fit: Can you be yourself and succeed?
Culture isn’t about whether they have free snacks or a “fun” Slack channel. It’s about what gets rewarded, what gets ignored, and what gets punished.
Check for alignment with your core values. If you feel like you’ll have to shrink, perform, or constantly translate yourself to fit in, that friction adds up fast.
5. Perceptions: What do people assume your role means?
Job descriptions are tidy. Real expectations are not.
People will have opinions about why you were hired, what you’ll "fix", and how you’ll operate. Get curious early: What do others need from this role to succeed? What are they hoping I’ll do (and not do)?
6. Passion: Will you actually want to do this job?
Engaged teams don’t happen by accident, and your energy matters more than you think. If you’re not genuinely interested in the work, the leadership load gets heavier.
Ask yourself: Does this role align with my strengths and challenge me in the right ways? Can I see myself growing here, not just surviving?
If you’re making a career transition and want a sounding board, let’s talk.
