Moving into a new position can be very daunting. First you have to learn the ropes around the office: Just figuring out how to turn on the microwave can be a pain, much less learning all of the new tasks related to the position itself. I recall one job in which I parked in the wrong spot-the boss’s spot, of all things-on the first day (and then got teased about it for quite some time to come).
Settling in to a new routine, new hours, a new office and new rules is a challenge, but it is even more of a challenge when you are also trying to learn, befriend and speak with an entirely new group of people, many who have probably been there for quite some time, already know one another and are so focused on their own positions that they don’t realize how out of place you might feel.
If you are just starting out in a new position and are feeling out of place around your new coworkers, or if you are anticipating changing jobs and are the shy type who is nervous about trying to meet a hundred new people while also trying to learn about your new job, these are some ways that you can make that transition a little less daunting.
First, introduce yourself to everyone, and I mean everyone: the janitor, your coworkers, your boss (even if you’ve met these people before it is always a good idea, as some offices are so large that learning new faces and names takes some time).
Talk. Even if you are shy, it is important that you try to think of some conversation starters those first few days. Yes, the office is not a social place, though I tend to disagree. I know people say this, but how many times have you had a job in which the coworkers didn’t mingle around the water cooler talking about the latest television show or some other social type of fact. You spend a lot of time at the job; you’re going to socialize. If you want to make friends with your coworkers, or just feel a little more ‘in’, open your mouth and begin some conversations.
Do something nice for someone. Give a compliment. Make a pot of coffee. Bring in treats. People love special things, and if you do these things you’ll find it easier to move into the new office.
Remain approachable. This can sometimes be the hardest thing to do when in a new position. You are so busy concentrating on the job at hand that you forget to smile when you see someone, or introduce yourself, or stop by and say hello and compliment your next door neighbor. Do this and you’ll find that people respond.
And if you feel as though you are not being welcomed, just remember that your coworkers have jobs to do and that they are busy, just as you are. It may be that they don’t realize you are feeling nervous about meeting others, or that they are too focused on the work at hand to stop and chat. Give it time and before long you’ll be chatting with the rest of them!