Don’t get caught making these mistakes as a new employee

IN HIS younger years, this successful CEO would go into a new job like a bull in a china shop. Don’t make these four mistakes like he used to.

Four common mistakes you make at work

MOST of you reading this would likely agree that being the “newbie” isn’t easy.

Different people, processes, priorities: settling in and finding your confidence in a foreign culture takes time. And it takes patience — reams of it — a virtue easily forgotten in a pressurised new environment.

I learned this the hard way. In my younger years I would enter a new job like a bull in a china shop. Eager to impress, I would unabashedly trumpet my opinion, question existing processes and talk about my previous experiences as if they were some sort of badge of entitlement. I did this because I thought people would take notice, be impressed by my forthright ways. While I was successful in achieving the former, the latter quickly faded from reach.

Admittedly, it took a string of consistent constructive criticism before I eventually accepted that I had to redress my behaviour. It’s for this reason that I am now particularly conscious of helping guide the many others I see charging down the same misguided route when they arrive at a new organisation.

The most effective way of navigating this testing period is to steer clear of the following traits that are often mistaken as techniques to impress:

“AT MY OLD JOB I USED TO …”

Incessant reminders of how you undertook particular tasks in your former role are a surefire way of upsetting your new colleagues. Yes, previous experiences are beneficial, they’re a key reason why you were appointed in the first place, but be careful with how you position them as they can easily be misinterpreted as egotism. Every business is different, and while many new processes and skills you bring to the role will likely be beneficial, you can implement them only once you’ve successfully built trust with your colleagues.

ANSWERS TO EVERYTHING

Someone who believes that their way is always the best tells me two things: firstly, they’re narrow minded, unwilling to take on new ideas and feedback; secondly, they lack confidence — they feel not always having the answer is a sign of weakness, something to be embarrassed by. Generally, your employer will largely be looking for someone who is keen to grow and add to their knowledge and skill set. They don’t expect you to have all the solutions in the first few weeks and months. Masquerading as always having the answer is unbeneficial to your professional growth.

RUSHING IN

Entering a new job is like being a new roommate: immediately rearranging the furniture to the way you like it will likely result in dissidence and offence. People invest a lot of themselves into the workplace. There’s often a lot of emotion attached to the decisions behind the way things are, so you should respect and consider this before trying to implement new ideas and processes. Avoid rushing in, and remember, what may seem like a good idea to begin with may not remain so after you’ve obtained a better understanding of the business.

WHOLESALE AGENDA TO PLEASE

Particularly in a big organisation full of stakeholders, your priorities can become confused by numerous demands for your time and attention. In an attempt to please everyone, suddenly your ‘to do list’ is brimming at an overwhelming point. This is why it’s important to gain a clear understanding of your deliverables from your line manager, particularly when they are not yet easily identifiable. Assume nothing. If you receive a request for your time and attention from a separate area of the business, ask your manager whether it’s something that you should commit to. Once you’ve developed a firm grip on your direct tasks, you will then be in a position to commit to and filter requests from other colleagues.

Alex Malley is chief executive of CPA Australia and author of The Naked CEO. This article originally appeared on LinkedIn and was reproduced with permission.