How to survive in a new team and spend your first days at a new job productively

How to adapt to a new team

It all depends on a person’s communication skills and his desire to find a common language with colleagues. But even sociable and open people experience some discomfort in the first days. This is normal, because in a new environment everyone goes through a period of psychological adaptation.

There is no need to wind yourself up and set yourself up for trouble in advance. You will be able to adapt more easily to a new team by following a few simple rules:

Be polite and discreet;
Do not rush to reveal all the information about yourself and do not be intrusive towards your colleagues. Now they are just taking a closer look, but later they themselves will want to get to know each other better.
Don’t be frank, don’t talk about your secrets and personal life, instead focus on work and make business contacts;
Don't brag about your professional skills and don't find fault with your colleagues. Of course, you shouldn’t be a gray mouse; if you need to make a comment or make an amendment, always express yourself, but tactfully and calmly.
Don’t focus on the mistakes of others, prove your professionalism, and then your colleagues themselves will listen to you.

How to prepare?

Preparation is everything! Being fully armed, you will not be taken by surprise and will not find yourself in an awkward situation. Let's go point by point.

Appearance

Does the company you work for have a dress code? Will you be given special clothing? Is the dress code loose? In the first two cases everything is clear, but in the third you will have to take the choice seriously. It is best to dress modestly but impeccably. Neutral colors, nothing provocative, much less vulgar. Low-cut dresses and blouses are a no-no! It is better for a man to wear a shirt; even in tandem with fashionable jeans, it will emphasize the working business style. Avoid:

bright makeup,
sharp and intrusive perfume,
flashy jewelry and accessories.

You don’t need to make a splash with your appearance on your first day of work, even if you are a breathtaking beauty or a fiery macho. Don't forget to tidy up your hair and hands.

Select and prepare your clothes the night before. There is nothing worse in the morning than getting ready in a hurry. It’s much healthier to eat a nutritious breakfast, stay positive, and show up to work a little earlier than expected.

Emotional background

Are you very worried? Then lie in a bath with sea salt the day before, listen to quiet music, drink a glass (only one!) of good wine, have dinner while watching a good movie.

To quickly and peacefully fall asleep, brew chamomile tea or heat a glass of milk with honey. A few pages of your favorite book - and you will be drawn to the kingdom of Morpheus. Getting a good night's sleep is important if you want to look good, feel confident, and think quickly.

In the morning, don't let yourself fuss. Cut off thoughts about possible embarrassment or difficulties in communication. If you have family members at home, don't take your worries out on them, otherwise you'll feel guilty during the day and won't be able to concentrate on work. Be kind and accept kind words of support with gratitude.

If you are used to starting your morning with a run or walk with your four-legged friend, do not give up this tradition. There is no need to make your first day at a new job the event of the century. This is the same day as all the others, only a little more interesting - that’s the right message!

Professional readiness

If you're one of those guys who constantly worries that you're not measuring up, ask yourself, “Why did I get this position?” The answer is obvious - undoubtedly, because the management considered you a professional and is ready to pay money for your services. I'm learning, your skills and knowledge were assessed as quite sufficient.

On the other hand, excessive self-confidence and carelessness can play a cruel joke on you. To prevent this from happening:

Be sure to read the materials you were given,
find and read information about the company on the Internet;
It’s good if you were told what software products you will be working with, study and master them.

This is enough, but you will delve into the subtleties as you work.

How to behave correctly in a new team?

Under any circumstances, it is important to remain an individual and maintain self-esteem. Be flexible, learn to work around rough edges and smooth out conflict situations, but do not act to the detriment of your interests.

A work team is a small social organism that exists according to its own laws. Each new employee brings some kind of revitalization to it and changes the usual environment. A test of strength and the gaze of your colleagues awaits you. Here are useful tips that will help you become one of the strangers:

Banish negative thoughts and tune in to the good. To establish rapport with colleagues, demonstrate sincerity and friendliness. Smile more often, but your smile should be polite, and not “ear to ear”, otherwise you may be mistaken for a frivolous person;
Know how to listen, do not interrupt;
Quickly find out who the informal leader is in the team and establish friendly contact with him. After this, he will probably bring you up to date and tell you about all the rules and procedures in this community;
Don't be late for work from the very first days. This habit can greatly damage your reputation;
Don't spread gossip. If your colleagues encourage you to wash someone’s bones, calmly refuse it.
Pay due attention to appearance. Wear stylish but formal things, do not show off expensive jewelry and accessories. Don't provoke the envy of your colleagues.

Don’t expect people to immediately run to you with open arms. In any team, newcomers are suspicious. But over time, your colleagues will get used to you, and everything new and complex will seem familiar and ordinary.

The main thing is not to overdo it, because trust does not come immediately. Do not be excessively active, do not impose your views, even if you are convinced that they are correct. Later, you will gradually emerge from your reasonable neutrality and be able to promote your ideas.

Peculiarities of behavior in male and female teams

Women and men are like heaven and earth. Behavior in a team is fundamentally different if it consists entirely of women or men.

Features of the male team:

Focus on results.
Lack of emotions.
Cruelty.
Lack of gossip and intrigue.
Depersonalization - at work you are an employee, not a girl, Masha.

The cruelty of the male team is manifested in the race for profit and the desire to advance their career.

Men touch less on the personal and talk more about distant things. By criticizing your work, a man will stick to the facts.

Features of the women's team:

Emotionality in communication.
Awareness.
Aggressiveness.
Focus on the individual.
The desire for superiority, self-affirmation by humiliating others.

Women do not talk to the employee, but to you personally. This makes communication difficult, since the male approach to business is more correct from the point of view of professional ethics.

Women's groups are not the safest place. You need to be able to join them, to become your own.

Secrets of successful adaptation to a new job

It is very important, when you join a new team, not to make enemies from the very first days of work. After all, it is easy to ruin relationships with people, but it is extremely difficult to improve them. Remember that people are always greeted by their clothes and first impressions.

You must be dressed decently, but “sharp”, and at the same time behave adequately. Show yourself as a serious and responsible employee. Try to understand the work process as best as possible.

It would not be a bad idea for a new employee to acquire an experienced mentor, but if there is not one, do not hesitate to ask colleagues about the nuances of the work, show your endurance and willingness to learn. Take criticism tolerantly, but don’t let it get on your head.

Always have your strong position. If you notice that one of your colleagues is trying to manipulate you, keep communication with him to a minimum - only to the point, no unnecessary chatter.

At first, you need to look closely and listen to everything that is happening in the team. Don’t reveal all your cards at once, even if you don’t agree with something, don’t talk about it head-on. First you need to understand everything, and only then decide on a behavior strategy.

What to do if your colleagues are against you

The team can have a strong influence on management. Strikes and boycotts often end in meeting the demands of the rioters.

It is necessary to find mutual understanding. There are proven schemes.

How to win the favor of colleagues:

Determine who is the unspoken leader in the team. Talk to him, find a common language. By acting through the leader, you will gradually gain the trust of others.
The Russian team can be united behind a common event. At a corporate party, show your best sides: take part in competitions, sing a soulful song. Be sociable and friendly.
Show professionalism. Seeing an unconditional leader, people will listen. Professionalism, loyalty and adequacy are important features that distinguish a leader.

What not to do:

Point out any shortcomings of others.
Discuss employees behind their backs.
Treat any employee, including junior staff, with disdain.
Demonstrate excellence.
Refuse requests.

Keep it simple and people will follow. This phrase means that you need to show yourself first and foremost as a human being.

Tell us about one of your shortcomings, or some personal story that does not play against you. Treat everyone with respect and understanding. And don't put yourself down.

Remember! People sense your level of self-esteem and adjust to avoid a conflict situation. This behavior is dictated to us by the subconscious.

Love yourself, respect all employees, without exception, including cleaners and security guards.

Show your best qualities and you will see the results. Just being yourself is not enough. Become the best version of yourself.

How can you not behave in a new team?

People are critical of everything new, including newcomers. Moreover, they will exaggerate their shortcomings, but may not notice their advantages. It is very easy for a new employee to turn colleagues against him if he does the following things:

talking loudly on the phone with friends, forgetting to leave the office;
douse yourself from head to toe in perfume with a strong aroma;
crack seeds all day, chew gum (without sharing with colleagues);
play music on a computer or mobile phone, disturbing people from working;
openly tell his colleagues everything he thinks about them;
pour out a bad mood on employees, break down and be rude;
grumble or whine about anything;
express a personal opinion on any occasion and poke your nose in everywhere, demonstrating unshakable confidence in your rightness;
discuss other employees with colleagues as soon as they leave the office.

Thus, the best assistants in a new team are wisdom and restraint. Concentrate on work and self-realization, do not talk idle talk and do not waste spiritual energy on unnecessary disputes. Don’t look for enemies around you, rather work on yourself to correct your shortcomings and strengthen your positive qualities.

Basic mistakes

Self-confidence. Displaying this quality is inappropriate with a new team; you will immediately become an object of ridicule.
Excessive modesty. In the eyes of others, you will appear like a gray mouse, and you will never gain respect.
Helping others with their work. You must understand that everyone must do their job, and if you start helping others do it, then rest assured that soon all employees will shoulder their tasks to you. As a result, your boss will think that you are doing the wrong thing and will fire you.
Dress and behave provocatively. Remember, you are by no means a star, even if you were one at your previous job, here you are just one of many. Therefore, show your creativity in your work, and not in your appearance, which, first of all, should radiate health, and not the tone of your makeup.

Now you know everything about how to behave in a team in such a way as to fully show yourself as a mature personality and a worthy employee. By adhering to the rules we have presented, you will avoid many stupid situations. You will also find our article useful: “How to join a team?”

How to make friends with a colleague or “fit in” with the company?

Obsessiveness is an extremely unpleasant quality. Obsessive people are diligently avoided, sometimes openly ignored. What could be more humiliating? Take your time to sign up as a friend. Your task is to establish yourself in the team as a positive, polite, tactful and hard-working person if you want to get close to similar people. Like attracts like!

You shouldn’t make friends, insert yourself into the company, or demand attention. Wait until they show interest in you, or there is a reason to express friendly sympathy.

Here are a few situations to take advantage of.

Lunch break. If everyone goes to the common dining room for lunch, show up there a minute later than the others and sit at the next table with the person you are interested in. Smile and ask how you are doing. Most likely, you will be invited to join and told what good things are on the menu.
If your team has a tradition of bringing treats from home and treating employees, take a closer look at what your crush likes. Prepare it in such a way that it’s “finger-licking good” and invite everyone to try it. Most likely, you will hear words of gratitude, a compliment and be able to start a friendly conversation.
Corporate party. Real luck! In an informal setting, with a glass of champagne in hand, people make contact faster and are more willing to talk about themselves. You only need to choose the moment to ask a question like “how long have you been working here?” or “Where did you work before?” or “have you tried these canapés yet?”

If you feel mutual sympathy, do not dig into the person like a spider. A few minutes of conversation is enough to tell you about yourself in a nutshell. Relax, have fun, and soon your colleague (or herself) will contact you with some question.

It is a little more difficult to make friends with a group of two or more people, because not everyone is ready to accept new “friends” into it. There are couples who are generally “friends against everyone.” It’s better not to meddle with them, even if they call you.

In other cases, your best assistant is time. Show unobtrusive friendliness, take care of your impeccable reputation, and quite possibly you will join a pleasant company.