6 TIPS FOR SETTLING INTO YOUR NEW TEAM

6 TIPS FOR SETTLING INTO YOUR NEW TEAM

 
New position, new work environment, new company culture, new colleagues... Whether you are a junior or a senior, whether you are freshly arrived in a new company or transitioning to a new department, joining a new team is not always easy. It can even be intimidating for some. Discover our advice on how to integrate well into your new team. 


1.    Make a good first impression


As well as arriving on time on the day, you need to ensure that you make a good impression from the start. For example, it is important to meet your new colleagues and to introduce yourself, to learn their names and their job roles. 

Show interest by asking questions and actively listening to them. Keep an open, respectful and cheerful attitude during all of your exchanges. This is the moment to foster a positive image with your new colleagues!

Don't forget to look into your company's dress code beforehand in order to avoid any faux pas. If you haven't been informed about it, take inspiration from the outfits worn by the people you met during your job interview. 


2.    Be curious and observe


Before your job interview you read up on the company, looked at its social networks and stayed up to date with its latest developments. Now that you are in the integration phase within your new company, you must continue to find out more about them. In order to to do, make sure to keep a watchful eye on your company's news.

Also, when you are new to a company, you need to be able to retain a lot of information quickly: the functions of each employee, the company's processes, the different departments, the tools and software used, the vocabulary, the company culture, etc. 

To facilitate your integration, gradually immerse yourself in your new working environment. Observe and pay attention to everything that happens around you. Be curious and do not hesitate to ask questions to clarify certain points. Find out which colleagues you will be working with frequently. If necessary, take notes to make sure you don't forget anything. Will you be working from home? Do not hesitate to ask your colleagues questions, either by email, telephone, instant messaging or video conference.

In addition, if the manager has not already organised any, ask the team members for half-hourly briefings. This is primarily to get to know each other, but also to understand their functions and responsibilities and to develop a clearer idea of how you will all work together.


3.    Take it step by step 


Taking the initiative and demonstrating involvement is good, but be careful not to come across as an arrogant person who thinks they know better than everyone else. Constantly referring to your former employer's methods is also a no-no. 

Accordingly, avoid being overzealous and trying to impose your vision of things or your way of doing things. You are the last to arrive and it's therefore important to remain humble and discreet and to follow the methods of your team. You may be an expert in your field but you don't know everything. Be patient, opportunities to show your skills and contribute your ideas will come soon. 


4.    Adapt to the company culture


If you have worked in various different companies throughout your career you know only too well that every company (and even every department) has its own way of doing things, its own rules, traditions, rituals, values and even its own language. 

In order to integrate into a new team and get closer to your new colleagues, it is therefore essential to understand the company culture and to respect it. The difficulty lies in the fact that most of these rules are tacit and unwritten, so you need to be observant and know how to decipher the customs and the unspoken. 

In short, be prepared to adapt quickly and to go with the flow. For example, if your colleagues are used to having lunch together every day, joining them will make it easier to integrate. It's also a good idea to communicate via the same channels. If they regularly chat on WhatsApp, be sure to join in and send them your favourite gifs, recipes, jokes or photos!


5.    Connect with colleagues


Once the introductions have been made and everyone's names and jobs have been decided, try to get to know and bond with your new colleagues. Even if you are shy, you should not stay in your corner!

In addition to greeting them every morning and at the end of the day, join in with conversations, accompany them on lunch or coffee breaks (both physical and virtual). You can also share treats with them (of course, respecting barrier gestures) or offer to bring something back when you go down to the local café. Also give them the opportunity to get to know you. Tell each other about what you like and what you have in common.

In any case, while it is obviously crucial to maintain a professional attitude you should also make sure that you stay true to yourself. Don't become someone you are not just to try to fit in.


6.    Ask for feedback to integrate better


A few weeks after your arrival, if it hasn't been offered already, ask your manager to review with you whether your work is appreciated and to understand what you could improve. By doing this, you show that you are committed, motivated and looking to do a good job. This feedback also allows you to make any necessary adjustments . These improvements will also help you to adapt and strengthen your integration into your new team.

Little by little, after the observation phase and by trying to build relationships with your colleagues, you will manage to integrate and find your place in your new company. In any case, remember that you have been recruited for your skills, but also for your personality, which corresponds to the company's values and needs. Stay patient and trust in yourself and you will have every chance of integrating well into your new team!