Building relationships that last
There is a lot to learn when starting a new job, including new tools and processes, new technology, what the company does, and the customers they serve. Learning about the people you will be working with (both internally and externally) is also a huge part of making sure you start in the right way and that you are set up for success.
I’ve been lucky enough to join a company that truly understands what it takes to work effectively as a high performing team. This started with really getting to know each other over the last few weeks, to understand how we all like to work, and then agreeing upon how we will operate best as one team, working towards our shared goals.
Here are some things that have really helped me to build better relationships during my first few weeks in the role:
- It started for me during the hiring process, as I made sure I asked plenty of questions about the team culture and who I would be working with. I also asked if it would be possible to meet other team members before I started. This meant that, by the time I started on Day One, there were already some familiar faces, and I had a good idea of how I would fit into the team.
- I think we've all really benefitted from spending dedicated "team time" together, outside of our client and project work, to get to know each other at a deeper level. These sessions have helped us establish our core team values and ways of working.
- A real highlight for me has been sharing our DISC personality profiles with each other. It's been really insightful to talk through our reports and understand what we agree/disagree with, how we work under pressure, and how we can best support each other. We've joked that it's felt a bit like group therapy at times, but it's definitely something I would recommend doing with your team if you can!
- I try to build trust and credibility with my teammates by offering support, following up on actions, and keeping them in the loop with the things I am working on. I've found this is even more critical when working remotely, so I aim to be present and visible by checking in regularly with my colleagues.
- I have also made sure to communicate openly when I have questions or concerns. This has been possible to do from early on because we've taken time to build an environment where it feels safe to share and where we all feel supported.
Why does it matter?
Through building better relationships with my colleagues, I have discovered the following benefits:
- Improved teamwork and collaboration
- A happier and more fulfilled work life
- More open and transparent communication
- Higher productivity and efficiency
- An environment where it feels safe to share with each other.