Hi there Terry here from DotPointz. How to find allies in the workplace when
you're brand new to the company. So the first tip we would give you is when you
when you're in a new workplace and you're trying to find your people right
you can generally find a small group or at least a handful of people who become
your allies in the workplace. So the first thing you need to do when you're
brand new is you need to take a genuine interest in people and that means asking
people a lot about themselves. It's really tempting as humans to just talk
about ourselves but take a genuine interest in others ask them questions
about their interests about their roles about their tenure at the company about
what they like about their role and you'll find that you will start to get a
feel for those people that you need as allies because their role is important
to you but also those that you might naturally have interests in common with
that can become your allies even if their role has nothing to do with yours.
So take a genuine interest in people. The second point is develop relationships of
trust with those people with whom you would like to form alliances with and
those relationships of trust are built around simple things such as you doing
what you would say you would do for them when you say you would do it so just
delivering on your work tasks that might relate to their role or being consistent
in showing up for meetings on time and that kind of thing so those
relationships of trust develop in the workplace when those around you can see
that you are someone they can rely on that you're on time you deliver on time
you do what you say you will do when you say you would do it. The third tip we
would give you is go out of your way to help others and you'll find that when
you need help those people come and help you so that doesn't have
to be a really big deal you don't have to do big enormous gestures in the
workplace but if you're otherwise preoccupied on a task for example you
hear someone is struggling with an Excel spreadsheet and you happen to know how
to fix it just get up from your desk and offer to help. Just going out of your way
when it's not really in your realm of responsibility really makes an
impression on your work colleagues and you'll find that when you need
assistance they are more likely to help you. The next tip we would give you in
terms of finding your allies in the workplace; it's really important when
you're new in the workplace is to keep your personal life personal at least
until you know people better so don't over share and it is another post
another topic that we talk about at DotPointz but when you new just keep it
professional just feed people small tidbits about your life as appropriate but
don't you know wear your heart on your sleeve. You want people to know you
professionally and to trust you professionally before you allow them
into your personal world if indeed you allow them at all. I have a rule that it's
really important to keep your personal life really separate from your
professional life if possible. The next tip we would give you is treat staff who
rank lower than you with the utmost respect.
It really does say something about you if you're just as courteous to the
person who might clean the office before you come in or or someone who might have
a fairly basic clerical role compared to your role it's important that you treat
everybody and not just those above you who are more senior to you with the
utmost respect. It's really it's a real sign of maturity it sends a really big
signal to those around you that you're a respectful person and it's really good
to have allies who might be sitting on the reception desk of your company who
might be in the mail room of your company whatever the role is treat them
with respect . You need allies at every level of the organization. The last tip we
would give you is follow your intuition your gut will tell you who your tribe is
in the workplace and who are the people that you might immediately have a
rapport with and then you know be open-minded - there are people in the
workplace you might walk in and go home the person is a little unusual but you
as you get to know them you might find that they become one of your strongest
allies So give someone a chance even if you
don't warm up to them initially because it takes all kinds of
personalities in a workplace and some of them can be really strong allies.
Yes, you will warm to some and not to others.
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