Start on the right foot - Aim to ace your first day at work

This post came out from The Straits Times (13 June 2014)
Title - Start on the right foot - Aim to ace your first day at work

Some pointers that I've got are:
1. Starting right
2. Ask for help
3. Find out what is expected of you

On Starting right

• When embarking on a new role, the first rule to follow is to simply observe how people operate and interact with one another in your new work environment. Every organisation has its own unique culture. Aim to get a good understanding of the language, working styles and collaboration among team members.
• Learn who are the key players and decision-makers and speak to them about how they like to do business. 
• Get a feel for the methods, structure and hierarchy and whether collaboration and innovation are openly embraced or achieved in small steps.
• Be willing to adapt your working style if you used to work in a particular way because every organisation does things slightly differently. 
• Draw upon the skills and experience you built up with your previous employer but don't have the mindset that you can do things in exactly the same way. Even though you will deliver the same quality of work, you may need to change the way you go about it. 
• Remember also that you are not going to change the world in a day - it is unrealistic to expect otherwise. The most effective workers and leaders do not "reinvent the wheel" but, rather, copy good ideas and make them relevant to the environment they are in.

On Ask for help

• If you are finding the demands of your new role challenging, the most important thing is to ask for help and, more importantly, ask for feedback. A steady, constructive, open approach and clear communication of what you are doing with your fellow workers will help you win the career performance race.
• You should never be too proud to approach others for help or consider it a sign of weakness - especially if this is your first job. It is perfectly normal to feel helpless outside your comfort zone at times but you can manage this by communicating with others. 
• Even when you are feeling challenged, it is important to maintain an optimistic outlook and focus on your achievements rather than the mistakes that often come with a new role. 
• Don't place unnecessary pressure on yourself by making ambitious predictions about what you are going to achieve in the first days with a new employee.
• Instead, develop small, measurable, and achievable goals. And when you feel a little more sure of yourself and comfortable in your new surroundings, stretch the next goal further.  

On Find out what is expected of you

• A critical part of being successful in a new organisation is to be clear about the goals and expectation of the organisation, and align your own personal goals to these. 
• By focusing on what matters and what is expected, you will ensure you are keeping your eye on the bigger picture. By taking things one step at a time, remaining open to change and asking for feedback along the way, you will build the foundations for your success. 

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big