Team Relationships — How to survive your new team!
Let’s be real. We have all been there. That moment when you meet your new team for the first time. I have had people describe that moment as almost animalistic. The want to assert dominance, or to just fly below the radar. Whoever you are, you have likely had this moment. It can be completely nerve wracking.
Today we are going to explore this moment, and how to deal with it. What to do, and what not to do depending upon the role that you are assigned.
First, it is important to take the time to understand that your manager, or supervisor brought you into this team for a reason. There was a gap that needed to be filled, and they tapped you to step up and fill that role. Make sure that you fully understand why, and what is expected. If you do not fully get the gaps that are pre-existing in the team, and what you were brought in to do then you honestly have already failed.
Second, if you were brought in to manage take the time to understand the dynamics of the team. Take a few days to fully understand the way that the team already operates, and while you might need to make changes, do not demand that someone flip the table on how they work, the way that they have been effective in the past. (Good lord if I use the word “understand” anymore I might just stop writing LOL!). If you come off too aggressive in making changes to dynamics you can, and likely will fully alienate your entire team. Gradual, and strategic changes to affect the change that you want, and need to manifest.
Third, if you are NOT being brought in to manage the team then take a deep breath and buckle up. It is going to be a bit of a ride. You will need to balance the expectations of your leadership, while forming relationships with your peers, and finding your space within the team to get the work done that you have been assigned. Being the new person, without any sort of supervisory powers can be daunting, but find that guy… You know the one… The person who wants to tell you all about how to do everything, how to breath even if you let them. They tend to have an understanding of the policies and regulations.
Which brings me to an important topic. Read the employee handbook, and UNDERSTAND IT! If you do not immediate stop reading this, go get your copy (it’s pretty universal that you will get a copy) and make notes about questions that you might have, or grey areas. Then proceed to contact HR and set up a time to go over the handbook. That is their job, they should, and likely will appreciate that you are taking the time to get with the program. The attorneys who wrote it certainly will. Then once you understand said handbook put it in a spot where you can quickly find and reference it.
This is such a critical miss that is honestly not covered in a meaningful way by most universities, and trainings. That handbook is your bible for the company that is paying you. You need to be able to preach it, and abide by it! Obviously there will be minor things such as parking, or how the break room should be cleaned, but other topics are beyond important! This is one way to get started down a good path with your HR & leadership teams. You cared enough to actually read and take notes with a document that they have deemed critical enough, in most cases, to have you sign on your first few shifts.
Now, lets get back to our scheduled content. How to deal with a new team.
- Listen first, think while you take a deep breath, and then speak.
By doing this you will have fully formed the thought that hit you. You want to make sure that what you are adding to the discussion is not only viable, but actually useful. You do not want to come off like a blubbering idiot who speaks before they fully get the picture. In fact beyond introductions, and beyond direct questions for the first few meetings you should sit on the sidelines and just listen, and be a sponge.
- Don’t be an ass. Period, full stop.
Coming from a sales background primarily this is bragging about your earnings (RED FLAG), how successful you used to be, how amazing you think you are, etc. Don’t be that guy. Be proud, but humble. Seriously. Be HUMBLE! I can not state this enough, and if I am honest when I was younger this was a struggle for me going from one sales team to another. You have to have a fine balance between being confident and being a braggard.
Side note here: NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER talk about your salary, or your commission, or your income of any kind with anyone beyond those who have access to that data, and not without a direct question regarding it. It is gross, and not information that ANYONE beyond you and the people signing your check need to know about. I worked for a car lot where you were taught not even to open your check until you were away from other employees. We were all taught to be private about our money. Adopt that mindset, and mind your business. And if you are asked keep that person in mind to be careful sharing information with.
- Don’t be a suck up.
You have a job, it does not include trying to be excessively on your bosses side. Do you job, and let that speak for itself. You want to build relationships with your coworkers, not have them wary of you. Be friendly, and respectful, and meet your deadlines, and metrics but do not be teachers pet. Until you have solidified your spot on the team you want to be a friendly sponge learning, and building relationships with your people.
- Learn Fast. Even if you do so on your time.
I am going to get pure rage from HR departments, Government Agencies, and people as a general for this one, but the reality is that you want to be the best you possibly can be at your job. If it requires you to learn things beyond basic math, and how to greet people appropriately take time to hone your skills on your own. My wife and I did this when she got her first sales jobs, and with the span of a month she was a solid sales person. She would save questions, and come home and I would answer what I could so that she could ask more job specific questions when she got to work. We roleplayed the entire sales process over and over for close to a month. She could overcome objections, and rock through the sales process in an efficient way. Was it paid? No, but with sales jobs, and other jobs that have performance metrics this is a critical skill. Take the work home until you are at a solid point, and then refresh when you miss your metrics. Be the best YOU can be. Not just for your employer, but for yourself.
If you really think about it there are a ton of jobs that all but require this. Any job that requires CE (continuing education), or jobs that pay more for having a grasp of additional skills. Plus long term it will end up making YOU more money if/when you get promoted or get a better paying job on the basis of those new, or additional skills.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
As a bit of a cavate to this: make sure that your timing, and questions are appropriate to the task at hand. If you have additional questions put them in an email or on a notepad and ask at a more appropriate time. This will end up being better for you anyway.
Understanding the job you were hired for is critical, and as such your questions should rapidly go from more general questions to more targeted and direct questions about the tasks, and projects you are working on. You should not have to ask the same question on a daily, weekly, or even monthly basis. If you do need a clarification on a question after it has been answered start like this:
“Excuse me boss, has the policy on “X” topic changed in the last month or so? No? Ok, thanks.”
By doing this you are showing that you know that you asked the question before, and you are checking to ensure the answer is the same. Additionally, more often than not a supervisor will follow up and ensure that you got the same answer (or should, but that is a different discussion).
- Join in.
Being a part of a team in a healthy way is work in and of itself. Be a part of the team. Get into the discussions about sporting events, concerts etc. Get into the company softball team. Go to the company picnics and dinners. Be a part of the team. Do not isolate yourself, and just hide in your cubical. This will likely end up being your demise on that team. You need to be a part of the culture of the company that you are working for. This is such a big thing that there are full on articles about corporate culture.
- Be Honest.
Regardless if it is you telling small inaccurate statements about how good you are at your previous job, or overinflating how exciting your life is outside of work, or any number of seemingly meaningless white lies they will likely end up making you regret telling them at one point or another. Think before you speak, and be honest.
Now you can be honest without hurting peoples feelings. Know when to speak, and when to redirect, or disengage. Be the better person. Be honest, but being hyper blunt can almost be as bad. Be strategic in how you converse with others.
To close:
Be the best you that you can possibly be. Do the best job that you can for the people who hired you. That includes coming to your superiors in the event of issues, or in the event that a different has offered you another job for higher pay. Give your current employer the opportunity to meet, or exceed that offer. Also remember that sometimes the money is not worth it. The new employers culture could be toxic. You could end up having a dictator for a superior. Remember that the grass is not always greener on the other side.
