BAW Ep. 13: The first 30 days

Joining a new team is never easy. It doesn't matter how experienced you are, settling in a new nestle requires some wiggling, and wiggling will rustle a lot of leaves and twigs-- it's uncomfortable to say the least.

And I am sure it is far harder for fresh graduates and young professionals, but especially the former. I had my experience as a fresh graduate trying to navigate my way into the corporate world, bumping onto others, making mistakes, and infuriating people. And I've had my share of experience on the receiving end too. And as I become more senior, this would only be a far more common occurrence.

And I think I know why. And this is my guess, no more, no less.

You see, fresh graduates were in a bubble, as we all were back then. Varsity years are vastly different from the working world.

In class, there are a lot of students, and lecturers cannot afford to give attention to each and every one of his/her students. If you make mistakes or your performance is not up to par, the repercussion is not as direct and vivid for the lecturer as it is for your manager.

Secondly, not a lot of universities and lecturers out there can afford to wait for somebody to answer their questions in class. As such, when they ask questions, they do not expect for an answer, hence you won't feel like answering too because why should you expose yourself to potential humiliation in the event you're wrong, right? Hence, you're comfortable in a setting where answering questions are not expected of you, which is a stark difference in the workplace.

Thirdly, you could survive university by being a loner. Your effort or lack thereof would most probably affect you and you alone. Collaborating with others is not a must. You'd pull through even if you suck at it. Working together is just not the aim of universities. However, in the workplace, collaboration is almost always, a must. You will not be able to perform your duty successfully without collaborating with others.

New Nest

So, what can you do in your first 30 days at a new place? New location, new work, new people, and a new manager. Most of these things are not within your control. These are external factors. And trying to control them are not effective and productive at all. But what you can control is what you do and feel. So, in order to fit in in the new environment, I suggest doing these in the first 30 days.

Really get to know your teammates

Some companies do have an ice-breaking session where all of the team members introduce themselves briefly from one person to another. And you'll sit there and pretend like you caught all of that in that short amount of time, unable to write anything down and nodding along as you see their mouth spewing words. But you know you can't remember all of that.

So, ask your manager whether you can take some time to get to know your team members individually. Yes, your manager might be busy to introduce them, but this is where your proactiveness plays a role. Say that you will approach each of them yourself, and this is your initiative to get to know them better.

Then, ask 15 minutes of their time, each. Ask these questions;

1. Their name and what should you call them
2. Their responsibilities and what areas you could rely on them
3. What tips they could give you working in the team and in the company

Yes, 3 simple questions to get to know them better. This way, you would have the undivided attention to just one person, and you'd have time to note things down. It would also serve as a good insight to the individual's personality and how would they react to you. You would also know to whom you can find help from should you need one, which is almost always the case in a new place.

Set clear expectations

If your manager does not do this, then it's up to you to bring it up. Ask your manager, what is their expectation of you in the first 30 days? What should you do and achieve in this period that would be in accordance with his/her expectations?

By doing this, you are clearing any miscommunication and any potential grievances caused by your ineptitude. How exactly to ask? Try this:

Hi Ms. X, I want to make sure my transition here smooth and I would like to know your expectations of me in the first 30 days. Can we have a short session to discuss that when you're available?

Do not ambush them to have a session right away. By asking the question this way, they have time to prepare, and it shows that you are both proactive, dedicated, and respectful. What better way to start build your rapport with your new manager, right?

Get to know the company

A lot of times, especially during the interview session, candidates are rejected simply because they didn't know what the company is doing. Well, it is not a cardinal sin, but a sin nevertheless when you look for a job. It is to some extent excusable.

However, if you're an employee, there is no excuse and reason not to know what the company does and what it stands for. You have to make it your mission to know the vision, mission, and the core values the company held dearly. Get to understand the culture and the policies as much as possible before you dive into anything else.

You will be working towards a collective goal. What is it? You are working in a different culture. What is it? The policies here are new to you. What is it?

Find the answers to all these questions. Either do your own online research, or better yet, ask around. The latter is better because why go online when you can go to the primary source, right?

Write down everything

This might be such a simple advice, but you'd be surprised how many people skip this essential thing, especially new joiners. Even seniors do this all the time. If they're not, then they should! Look, you're in a totally new environment and you're trying to handle everything at once. You might not notice it but it is putting a strain onto your mental state. You will forget things. You will mis-remember them. I guarantee it.

But lucky for you, the solution is simple. Write down everything you want to know and remember. The answers to the questions above, the tasks given by the manager, the company policies, the lunch places, the expectations-- everything.

I do advocate for digital note taking, but as has been proven by research, you might better remember something if you use pen and paper instead. Although the explanation is not clear, that was what the result has shown. It might be that you require more muscle and cognitive abilities to write something down rather than just typing a bunch of keys. Every movement to create letter and construct words and sentences are effortful, hence might make us remember it better.

But I digress.

The point it, write everything down.

And that's it!

It's just 30 days, and you (and your manager) can't expect you to be outright productive as those who are longer in the company. Focus on getting to know the place, the people, and the process. Write all of them, and get ready for the second 30 days!