It can be difficult adapting to a new position, a new environment and a new company culture. Consultants Christine Lambden and Casey Connor, authors of "Everyday Practices of Extraordinary Consultants," describe their experiences and lessons from working in different office environments.
Lambden and Connor offer some suggestions in order to have a successful transition when starting a new job:
-- Establish your integrity. Since you are starting with a clean slate, show up on time. If you have a beneficial start, you create good will for when you make mistakes in the future.
-- Admit when you are unsure. Don't be scared to tell managers when you don't know the answer; instead be willing to want to learn the solutions. It is important to remember how you found the information.
-- Ask questions. When you start a new position, this is the time to find out the answers. You have a free pass for a while.
-- Be careful when sharing personal information. Avoid revealing all personal information at first. Begin with less private or controversial topics.
-- Create a list of questions. Before beginning the job, write down what you want to know about the business, its markets, the boss, the culture, etc.
-- Eliminate certain topics in office conversations. These topics may create awkwardness or tension: politics, religion, money, capital punishment, cultures or salaries. Also try to avoid discussing: how your previous jobs were better, how former bosses were smarter, how many mistakes you made before you got this position or how much you dislike the city.
-- Make co-workers feel comfortable. If you tend to make others feel uncomfortable, you may miss out on opportunities such as business trips.
-- Tell your manager when a fellow employee helps you.
-- Express bad news to your boss immediately. If you disclose a problem early, it has a better chance of being corrected.
SICK IN THE OFFICE
Sickness doesn't seem to keep the worker out of the office. When it comes to feeling ill, a greater percentage of employees decide to go into the workplace rather than staying home. Forty-five percent of workers show up at the office feeling sick very often, according to a survey by OfficeTeam -- a staffing service that questioned 522 employees.
Thirty percent of workers say they go to work somewhat frequently when feeling ill, while 17 percent say this occurs somewhat infrequently. Only 8 percent of employees never go to the office when sick.
Managers tend to have a different opinion when it comes to sick employees. Only 17 percent of executives think that sick workers arrive at the office very frequently. Fifty-seven percent of managers say this probably happens on a somewhat frequently basis. The second greatest number (24 percent) of managers think sick employees somewhat infrequently show up at the workplace.
OfficeTeam provides tips for managers to help convince sick employees to stay at home:
-- Speak about expectations. Tell your staff you would rather have them stay home when they are ill. They will probably recover faster.
-- Serve as an example. If you take a sick day, workers are more likely to follow your actions as a model.
-- Provide alternatives. When a worker feels under the weather, offer working from home as an option. He or she can complete assignments without spreading germs to co-workers.
-- Look for assistance. Bring in temporary workers if employees are out sick for more than a few days.