The first week in a new role is usually enough to bring you back to all of those first-day-of-school insecurities--- particularly when you are concerned about whether or not your colleagues will like you.
But, more often than not, your biggest worry is this: Will everybody like you? Will you make fast friends in the office, or will you be tempted to eat your lunch alone?
Fortunately, you can take matters into your own hands. Ask these four questions when you are just getting started in your new position, and your co-workers won’t just like you-- they’ll respect and admire you too.
* In order to successfully communicate and collaborate with other employees at your company, you need to have a solid grasp on what exactly it is that they do.
While job titles can give you a surface-level glimpse into the different tasks they’re responsible for, those really only tell you so much.
For that reason, it’s always helpful to explicitly ask your colleagues what sorts of things they do on a daily basis.
The benefits of this question are two-fold. First, you will get a much more comprehensive understanding of specific people’s job duties.
Secondly, this sort of question demonstrates your genuine interest in your colleagues.
* There are plenty of workplaces out there that are warm and welcoming. But, if that doesn’t happen? There’s no need to wait for everybody else to extend an invite.
Instead, take a deep breath, put yourself out there, and ask to sit with a group of your new co-workers during lunch.
Being the one to take the first step makes you appear that much more friendly and approachable, not to mention confident.
* You understand the core duties of your new position-- the job description was able to fill you in on that much. But, now it’s smart to go a step beyond that and find out how your role can bring the most value to the other people on your team.
From your co-workers to your boss, finding out how you can be an asset to them and make their lives just a little bit easier.
* Your first week at a new job can feel a little strange. Most of the time, it’s filled with plenty of paperwork, the occasional meeting, and failed attempts at finding your way from the bathroom to your desk, without leaving a helpful trail of paperclips.
But, since you’re really only getting up to speed, there’s typically some downtime. You don’t have a ton of real work on your plate during that week and, as an added bonus, almost nobody knows your email address yet.
This makes it the perfect time to ask your colleagues if there’s anything that you can help them with. Not only is it a great way to make a positive impression on your team members, but it’s also an excellent strategy to gain some hands-on experience and a better understanding of how everything works in the process.
Courtesy: www.themuse.com
