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New to a workplace: default mode?
Hello,
when you're new to a workplace, you don't know who:
- Are the power players who're going to try to dominate/take advantage of you (for whatever reason)
- Have the informal power and can help/hurt you or give you a bad/good reputation
These are the kind of challenges I encountered. I made progress by asking: "how are you doing things around here?" as it shows humility, a desire to learn and to adapt to the local norms. It helped me a lot to adapt to new workplaces but the 2 challenges above I haven't found the way to address them without getting hurt first and then adapting to these people.
I also introduce myself to every person I'm working with: "Hi we haven't been introduced yet, my name is ... What is yours? (smile) Pleased to meet you" as it shows I'm aware I'm the new guy who has to make the effort to adapt.
So do you have any default strategies when entering a new workplace to avoid getting caught in the first place?
I found the answer to my question (Jocko Willink):
Good tips, the guy sounds very aware of both psychology and power dynamics.
I'd advise the same, to enter "tiptoeing" first, so to speak, and learning the environment.
That's good career strategy, too.
Despite me doing this, I've not done it enough and the nurses complained to my supervisor. These people are so stupid, it's mind-blowing. Since working in medicine, my opinion of the majority of nurses has only gone down.
They complained about a thing that I did not know. When there are some cases which are in a grey area socially or medically, they want us to ask their opinion about the case. And also they felt like I was not listening to them. So, in my case, it's all an ego thing. They don't feel recognized or taken into account and on the other side, they do nothing to communicate to me their expectations or to deserve my recognition. They just do the minimum and expect the maximum.
So, extreme ownership! ;)
I'm going to ask them their opinion and make them feel listened to. So I learned something: I have to make them feel good about themselves, even if they are lazy and selfish bastards. Working 60% of the time, gossiping 40% of the rest.
That is one decision I made, is to work with better quality people, no matter their roles.
Jocko also posted this new video today:
