New set of rules, new perspectives and clearly, a new team = New Job. Regardless of who you think you are and what you think you’re capable of doing, there is a learning curve to any new job. And yes, lessons will be learned. How one approaches a new situation regardless of the overall factors and mitigating circumstances, will make a difference in the nature and climate of your tenure. Do you want to be segregated as the “lone wolf” or integrated as part of a viable team? A myriad of factors are in play when you’re “the new guy/gal”. While there are no set answers, there is an infinite list of expectations. Here’s a Top 5 I’ve culled from my many recent ah-ha moments and what they mean in terms of my current working life:
- Smile. Do you want to be there? Then show it! Not everyone will smile back at you, but it’s a fact that it takes fewer facial muscles to smile than it does to frown.
- Resources. Pay attention…Who does what? If you still don’t have a clue, find out; ask questions. Invest in your future. This is no time to take a backseat.
- Suit-up/Show-up. You’re there to do a job (otherwise the company that just hired you wouldn’t have gone through the significant trouble of interviewing and believing in your abilities) – what are other people doing around you? How do they respond to the workload? Mirroring behaviors is a good way to start. A pro-active person asks how they can help.
- Recreating the Wheel has already been done. If you’re at all like me, you may think you have some great ideas on how to make “X” work better at your new company. ‘Thing is, maybe “the boss” likes “X” the way it is now. That’s okay. Learn – and do – what has been the standard before you start proposing changes.
- Patience…Perseverance. Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day. Know that soon enough it WILL be six months down the road and you will have a good grasp on your position – and status – in the company. But for now, it’s all about getting it right and well, just “getting” it. Consider this: even your boss was the new guy once.
