Happy at Work – 10 Tips for Those Starting A New Job
Being happy at work is your responsibility. If 2018 is the year you decide to move on, be sure to be clear on the kind of work environment you are looking for and the type of management that helps you to learn, grow and thrive. Use those criteria to find a job, manager and company that meets your criteria. Once you have the new job you will want to start on the right foot. Here are some tips to help you move in the right direction. (Some of these will also be helpful if you remain in the job you are in but want to make a fresh start.)
- Get to know people.
First meet those people in your department and then those in departments you interface with. Listen more than you talk. Ask lots of questions and get clarification if necessary so you truly understand how the office/department/business works. Begin to form relationships with those you work with. If you want to be happy at work you will want to enjoy working with your colleagues.
- Don’t try to change everything at once.
Be open to learning “their” way before you suggest “your” way. This is really important. Nothing turns people off more than having the “new guy or gal” tell them how it ought to be done or the way it was done in the old job. Listen to what is being said. Do it their way for a while so you have the experience and then make a case for change if necessary.
- Get in sync with your boss’ priorities.
What are his/her expectations of you? Make sure you are living up to them. A good way to do this is to meet with him or her immediately. You may know what your job is but it is important to understand the objectives and goals of your boss. It is your job to make him/her look good so set your priorities on what he/she is trying to accomplish.
- Have lunch with different people in the organization.
The first step is to meet the people in your department. When you understand how they operate then it is time to step outside your department to learn how you interface with other departments. How do you and your work fit into the overall business. Learn the “unwritten rules” of your new workplace.
- Learn about the culture.
Seek out those people who have been there a long time and schedule time to talk with them. Find out if the culture has changed over the years. Whether or not they are happy with the change you will need to work within the current culture so be careful not to get bogged down if they are negative. You want to stay away from complainers.
- Get to know the key players.
Seek out people both inside and outside your area who have roles that are critical to your team’s success. Ask for their support and offer yours to them. Key players can also be people who know what is going on and have a good network of people they are connected to. Look for them and stay connected. In a large organization they may know what is going on before management makes any announcement. You don’t have to pass on what they tell you but knowing ahead of time can be helpful.
- Identify the critical challenges.
If what you are working on has some critical issues, develop a plan that shows the most critical challenges you will address, the way you plan to approach the challenge and the time frames that you expect to complete the work. Share this with your boss. If possible when discussing challenges with your boss also discuss your planned way of resolving the challenge too. Loading your boss with problems and no solutions will be detrimental to your career.
- Complete a project.
Select at least one visible project to be completed within your first 60 days in the job. This is important. You want to have a quick success so that your boss and colleagues see you as a winner. In your initial conversation with your boss (#3), look for an objective or goal that he has that you could complete quickly.
- Take care of yourself.
Create a schedule for yourself that includes time off (including vacations) and good self-care. Changing jobs is stressful so include activities that you know reduce stress for you, i.e. proper rest, exercise, good diet, family time, etc. You can’t give your best effort if you are cranky, out of sorts or feeling ill so make sure you do what is necessary to maintain your health and positive attitude.
- Celebrate your success!
Feel good about what you have accomplished. You have a new job that you worked hard to get. Be sure to celebrate that. As you achieve your goal of meeting your colleagues in your department and outside your department take the time necessary to feel good about your success. Keep a list of your accomplishments so as the year progresses you can review what you have achieved. Your achievements will increase your confidence in yourself. Confidence is an important part of your success in your job.
Happy New Year!
January is a good time to hire a coach. With the added help of a coach you can hit the ground running. A coach will help you to be clear about what you want to accomplish and how you are going to get there. A coach will hold you accountable for reaching your goals. If you think I would make a good coach for you, please call me at 781-598-0388 or email me at asparker@asparker.com. We can set up an appointment for a no obligation free call to see if we can work together. You must be comfortable with your coach and your coach must believe he/she can work with you.
You might also enjoy another article I wrote How to Feel Good About Your Accomplishments at the End of the Year.
