Aight, so boom. Picture this, you've worked your ass off all 2017 through 2019 and you returned to work in 2020 to learn that you FINALLY are getting the promotion you've been dreaming about.
It's a very exciting time in your life because maybe you've haven't been feeling challenged at work because you've surpassed your job knowledge, or maybe some things in your life have shifted causing you to need more financial support from your company. No matter what it is, that promotion that you just received is right on time, and you're ecstatic because now you're becoming the boss woman you've always known you could be.
However, just like the saying goes, "With great power comes great responsibility." Your new promotion and its benefits will bring about a lot of change and new commitments, so it's critical that you are prepared mentally and professionally for what's to come.
I remember when I got my first big promotion at my last company. I spent the weekends (and some Turn Up Tuesdays and Thirsty Thursdays) leading up to my first new day turning up with celebratory toasts with my girls. As you can tell, I was completely proud and excited for my promotion and increased salary, but oblivious to what I was in store for at my job.
Before you start down that path of having constant celebrations because of your promotion, get into the tips below for some ways you can get your mind right for your new big role.
1. Get your personal life in order.
It doesn't matter if you've been at your company for X amount of years, or a couple of months, getting promoted yields new responsibilities - many of which you may underestimate. These new responsibilities and commitments can possibly disrupt your normal, everyday routine outside of work if you aren't prepared. Before you start your new role, go ahead and get your gym schedule down, place time on your personal calendar for journaling, reading, meditating, or whatever you do that keeps you centered, and schedule time to chill with friends for brunch dates or happy hours so that it's already planned. New job roles can cause stress so it's crucial that you are proactively planning out time to do things to de-stress.
2. Review your money goals.
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If your promotion comes with an increased salary, this is the perfect time to review your budget, and make revisions where necessary. With your new pay, you'll have more money to allocate towards savings, and to put towards other areas in your financial plan. I recommend revising your budget before your new role starts so that you already have plans for what you'll do with the money before you get distracted by those extra dollars on your check.
3. Learn more about your role.
Although you're already well-versed on your new role and what it entails, I recommend to take extra time out to talk to your supervisor or if possible, the person that was in the role before you, to get even more details on what to expect. Ask in-depth questions to figure out what the typical day looks like, the challenges that the person before you experienced, and your new boss' expectations for you for your first 30, 60, and 90 days.
4. Learn about your team.
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If you're leading a team in your new position, talk to the person in the role before you or to your new supervisor to get the scoop on your new direct reports. Ask clear questions to learn what their strengths, weaknesses, learning style, and communication styles are so that you can know what to expect.
5. Plan team outings.
Some people may think it's silly to plan a team outing or team interactions for employees that you haven't met or worked with yet, but it's not. Once you get in your new role, you'll be bombarded with learning your new job, managing expectations, and leading a team. The last thing that'll be on your mind will be nurturing your relationship with your new direct reports, but it's actually the most important thing. Early on as their new manager, it's critical that you are taking time out to get to know your team and blocking out dates for one-on-ones so that you can provide feedback on their progress. As their new boss, it's important that your new team is at the forefront of your mind and goals, and that you are intentionally making the effort to grow this relationship.
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In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
