How to behave correctly at work? Psychology of behavior at work

A new job is always stressful. And according to statistics, in the first year of work, almost half of newcomers fail, because at first the newly minted employee feels insecure and confused.

In addition to worrying about his own professional competence, it is difficult for him to understand the rules of subordination in the company, corporate traditions and customs. Experts offer several proven ways to survive in a new job, minimize discomfort and quickly get involved in the work process. These tips will be useful both for those who are getting a job for the first time and for those who have received a new position in an old company.

How to last at a new job: 11 proven ways

To survive in a new job, a newcomer needs to create:

Professional skills. After all, a new position will most likely require the development of additional skills.
Your reputation. You will have to earn authority from both your colleagues and your superiors.
Friendly relations with people in the team.

The ability to adapt to a new team is a necessary skill in today's society to survive at work.

Down with panic.

Don't panic in front of a new team. Just be prepared for the fact that at first they may treat you with distrust and skepticism. After all, it is unknown what can be expected from you.
When employees are convinced that you are a responsible and valuable member of the team, then they will begin to perceive you positively. Therefore, do not analyze every glance in your direction and the tone in which you were addressed. Don't fill everything with your own conjectures.

Don't shy away from informal communication.

Be sure to maintain communication with your new colleagues. Try to remember everyone's names. Feel free to say hello several times. It’s better to greet a person one more time than to guess whether you greeted him or not.
to treat colleagues with cake or sweets for tea in the first days of service If the company rules allow, you can drink a glass of champagne. When employees invite you to have coffee or lunch together, agree.
And don’t refuse a corporate party, even if you don’t really like such events. You need to get to know people better. In informal conversations with employees, mention that you like the new job and team. However, don't lie. Be honest about what appeals to you about the new company. But it’s not worth talking about what doesn’t suit you yet.
Find out when each of your colleagues has a birthday, ask how it is customary to congratulate the birthday person. However, be yourself and don't try too hard to please. There is no need to count on the universal love of your colleagues. It is impossible to please everyone.

Don't forget about informal communication

Don't allow yourself to be drawn into internal conflicts.

Be as welcoming and equally friendly with everyone as possible. But when trying to win the favor of your colleagues, be careful. Sometimes two or three groups are formed in a work team, conflicting with each other. And in order to strengthen their positions, co-workers may try to drag the new employee into one of the groups.
However, do not rush to join one of the warring factions. Maintain neutrality and be polite to all colleagues. Participation in confrontation only harms the newcomer. Psychologists advise that during the first time at a new job, you should observe more than establish contacts.

Be prepared to work outside of your schedule.

You are a new employee. And now you need to demonstrate to management that you were hired for a reason. Therefore, in the first months you will have to sacrifice your free time and possibly stay after work.
Be prepared for a busy schedule and intense work. After all, you have a lot to learn. And for this you need to read specialized literature and delve deeper into professional tasks.
Experts advise coming to work a little earlier than scheduled in the first days. Be active and show interest in your work. There is no need to wait until you are given some task. Offer your help yourself, ask employees about the company’s projects and goals.

Working outside of schedule

Ask for help.

Without the support of colleagues, the process of adapting to a new job is much more difficult. So don't hesitate to ask for help. In cases where you do not understand how to cope with a task, ask more experienced employees about it.
It is better to be brave and ask for advice than to make a critical mistake. Its price may be too high. When asking for help, ask not to do the work for you, but to show you how to do it correctly. Listen carefully and take notes so you don't have to ask multiple times.
Experts advise entering new information not into a computer, which can fail, but into a diary. Always carry it with you and write down all important information there at first.
Perhaps one of your colleagues will offer you help, while others will need to be approached by yourself. Be understanding that you may irritate someone. After all, you are distracting him.
But don’t think that you will definitely be rejected. After all, at work you do one common thing, and probably some employees will be happy to help you.
Plus, asking people for advice and giving them the opportunity to be their best selves can help them feel valued. And this will certainly endear them to you.

Record important information in your diary

Set your priorities correctly.

At first, focus specifically on work, and not on relationships in the team. You must present yourself as a professional. When you arrive at a new duty station, go towards your goal. However, you don’t need to immediately inundate management with your own ideas, even if you think they will improve the company’s performance.
Curb your initiative. You will still have the opportunity to prove yourself. But in the first days, complete the tasks that have been set for you. Immerse yourself in your work process as much as possible. If necessary, review your predecessor's records.
Understand the requirements for your job, internal regulations, dress code, and what job responsibilities are assigned to you. Not everything can be spelled out in your job description. Check the penalty system, if the organization has one.
Discuss controversial issues with management. You can ask your colleagues if there is any additional information that you need to know so as not to unwittingly break the unspoken rules. It may be a good idea to ask someone for mentorship. However, be careful. Some people, under the guise of helping, try to shift their responsibilities to a newcomer. In such cases, politely but firmly stop such actions.

Refrain from criticism.

If something causes you confusion or dissatisfaction, hold off on criticizing. Perhaps this is part of a well-oiled mechanism, on the creation of which a lot of effort and money was spent. Respect the established traditions and principles of the company. Only after two or three months of working in a new organization will you be able to make your proposals aimed at optimizing and improving work.
Also, do not criticize the employee who held your position before you. New colleagues may view this as overconfidence. Even if you saw the mistakes of your predecessor, refrain from criticizing him. In addition, it is advisable not to talk about your old team and previous work. Comparison is a mistake many beginners make. The fact is that no one likes to be compared to someone else. And your new team is no exception.

Be professional.

Remember that, first of all, you must produce results. Try to acquire competence that will allow you to stand out from the competition. For example, advanced training courses, obtaining an academic degree, or your publications in specialized publications.
However, do not demonstrate your own superiority, even if you are sure that you are much more experienced or professional than your colleagues. Such behavior, especially from a newbie, only causes irritation among others.
Create a work plan daily. This will help you avoid missing anything from your responsibilities. Some tasks can be broken down into sub-items. At the same time, be realistic about the time you may need to complete the work.
Accept in advance that you will need more of it than experienced employees. It's OK. You are just learning a new activity. And it’s better to immediately warn management that you need additional time than to promise that you’ll get it done in a short time and end up letting the company down.

Be a pro

Behave within the corporate culture.

Observe informal company policies. Notice how employees behave in different situations, how they communicate with their superiors, and what the general atmosphere is like. Don't expect that you will be able to fully understand the informal rules of the new organization in a short period of time. This gets absorbed after a few months of work. However, try to follow a few general rules.
Don't dress too provocatively in the first days. This can be an annoyance for employees. Therefore, your appearance should be modest and neat. Later, you will be able to determine what is acceptable clothing at your new job and what is not.
Don't talk on the phone about personal topics. This distracts other employees from the work process. If you urgently need to answer a call, go out into the hallway.
Be careful on social media. You shouldn’t immediately add new colleagues as friends. They may react negatively to this. Also check what information is posted on your page. Doesn't it contradict the principles prevailing in your new organization? Are there any very sensitive political posts that could cause conflict situations? If something causes you doubts, it is better to delete it.
Having understood how the company works and what kind of relationships exist between employees, you can try on these conditions for yourself. The main thing is to find a balance between how you usually behave in the new organization and how you usually behave.
If you don't like the company's principles and atmosphere, evaluate the prospects for professional growth. If the work itself suits you, focus on your job responsibilities. Do them as efficiently as possible.

Take care of your corporate culture

Be prepared for criticism

Don't be upset by criticism. Everyone can make mistakes. Besides, you're just learning. Demonstrate yourself as a responsible and confident person who is open to communication and ready to learn. Calmly listen to your colleagues.
Please take this not as criticism, but as friendly professional advice. You can also directly ask your manager whether you are doing your job correctly and how you can improve it.
But you shouldn't strive for perfection. This can cause you even more stress, which will lead to more mistakes.
Most importantly, do not panic if you feel like you are unable to complete the tasks assigned to you. Almost all beginners experience this feeling. It will definitely pass with time. According to experts, the adaptation period in a new place takes, on average, about three months.

Have a sense of humor.

Be prepared for the fact that at first new colleagues may make fun of you, wanting to test your endurance. Don't take such attacks too seriously.
If your co-workers see that you are too touchy and vulnerable, then there is a high probability that they will make fun of you even more actively.
Don't be afraid to laugh at yourself, but don't let people overstep your bounds. It’s better to immediately set boundaries by politely saying that some of the employees’ words are unpleasant to you.
Study the information, analyze it. Don't be afraid if you think it's too much. Remember that every new employee has the main advantage - a sincere desire to delve into the work process. Remember that the worst thing that can happen to you is having to look for another job.
And also evaluate your professional future in a new place. Consider whether your responsibilities will turn into a routine. Is this even necessary? After all, the light did not fall like a wedge on one organization. Don't break yourself and don't let yourself be treated poorly.

How a manager can help a subordinate

Some people adapt quickly, while others need time to get used to new conditions. The best option is to provide clear and detailed information about responsibilities and introduce them to colleagues. It is important to maintain a dialogue with the new employee and be attentive to him.

Be respectful of the beginner's pace. If he doesn’t catch everything right away, there’s no need to rush it too much. In the beginning, failure is normal. A person has little experience, he is worried and may do something wrong. The first sign that an employee is not coping is that he is not given the job even with your help and after correcting mistakes.

Look for the causes of conflicts. When you can’t find a common language with a new employee, pay attention to when contact is lost. What in the employee’s behavior and reaction confuses you and interferes with communication. Certain nuances should be discussed as early as possible so that they do not spoil the relationship in the future.

Provide stability. This applies to basic working conditions - place of work, monetary payments, schedule and responsibilities of the subordinate. To be trusted, you need to be a reliable leader. Provide all amenities, pay salaries on time and do not reduce them. Be consistent in your instructions and requirements. Don't make promises you can't keep.

Adjust the load. It is worth listening to the employee. Even if he does not speak openly, you may notice fatigue, decreased motivation to work, and constant mistakes. Perhaps the person is working to the limit and is close to burnout. Such things are highly undesirable, they worsen the condition of one employee and negatively affect others.

How to hold out at work, survive in a team that didn’t accept you?

Psychologists name several factors that are the basis for an employee’s comfortable existence in a team:

Character compatibility.
Cohesion.
Moral and psychological climate.
Psychological pressure.

A newcomer is not always accepted.
The combination of the listed elements allows a new person to successfully adapt to a new team. But, unfortunately, not all new employees receive support and help from the team. Sometimes, due to some circumstances, colleagues initially treat the newcomer negatively. Perhaps the person took the place of an employee who was very loved, or it is simply a long-established team where new people are reluctant to be accepted.

What to do if you have a new hostile team? Experts offer several proven methods:

Don't take your colleagues' negative attitudes to heart. Show strength of character. Respond to angry remarks calmly and politely. Over time, employees will understand that it is impossible to break you, and they will stop trying.
Start friendly communication yourself. Smile first, say hello, regardless of whether others answer you or not. Create an atmosphere of friendliness around yourself. Don't frown at their indifference. Over time, people will return your greeting, if only because it is too rude to remain silent in response.
If possible, start a conversation with one of your colleagues in an informal setting : over a cup of coffee, on the way from work. After all, individual employees can be quite good people. And in the team they behave like everyone else, because they are afraid of seeming like a black sheep. You can treat your colleagues to something tasty, perhaps homemade. However, you should not fawn and ingratiate yourself. Just offer to try. And if you refuse, don’t insist.
Determine who is the informal leader in the team. Contact him for advice in resolving any issue. Most likely, the person will be embarrassed to refuse you. Then sincerely thank them for their help. This will give your colleague the opportunity to feel important. This will have a positive impact on his attitude towards you, which, in turn, will affect the opinion of the team.

If, despite your best efforts to improve relationships, employees are still hostile towards you, there are three options for staying on the job:

Don't ruin your nerves and find another place to work. Don't take this as a failure. This is an experience and an opportunity to reconsider your expectations from professional activities. Learn your lessons and move forward.

Do not under any circumstances spoil your nerves.

Invite your colleagues who are opposed to you to submit their complaints in writing, substantiating in detail the reasons for such attitude. As a rule, aggressors then begin to behave much more restrained.
To survive in your new job, immerse yourself in your work and limit your interactions with co-workers. Talk to them only about work topics. After all, people go to work for professional growth and salary, and not to make friends.

Common mistakes

The first days are considered the most crucial period when starting to work at a company. Most employees make a lot of common mistakes during their first meeting.

In order not to antagonize your colleagues from the first day, refrain from the following mistakes:

Passivity - too much information on the first day causes confusion in the newbie; colleagues may think that he is indifferent.
Familiarity – you shouldn’t insert yourself into a colleague’s conversation without an invitation; it’s better to wait for the right moment.
Deviation from the rules - if co-workers notice that a newcomer is ignoring the unspoken rules of the team, they will initially be biased towards him.
Public comparison – it is not recommended to openly compare working conditions at your previous and current place.
Creation of false uniqueness - a newcomer’s work is appreciated only when it is demonstrated.

Also, you should not impose innovations on management and employees: if they were received with a bang at the previous company, then the chances of such a perception in the new place are small.

How to hold out at work and survive in a women's team?

The team, where exclusively women work, deserves special attention. Psychologists note that a purely female team is a rather complex formation , and it can be difficult for a newcomer to join it. We offer women and men several expert recommendations on how to survive at work in a female team.

How to survive in a women's group as a woman:

Do not chat too much with your secretary or colleagues. Rest assured that in a women's team, all secrets spread at the speed of sound. Everything you say will become known to both management and other employees, and then will be used against you. Never complain about your salary and, especially, about your boss. Your statements will definitely be conveyed to him.
Talk less about your personal life and certainly don’t brag. Your stories about expensive purchases, a wonderful husband and trips abroad may make your less fortunate colleagues jealous.
Don't skimp on compliments to your employees . Of course, there is no point in ingratiating yourself. However, sincere praise about a stylish hairstyle or a beautiful dress will have a positive impact on their attitude towards you.
It’s even more difficult for a man in a women’s team. Therefore, be prepared for a number of difficulties.

to survive as a woman
How to survive as a man in a women's team:

Be careful with compliments. The female sex, of course, loves them. However, compliments on appearance are often interpreted as advances or harassment. And the reaction of employees in this case may be negative.
Never interfere in women's conflicts. They may end up making you guilty.
Learn to listen. You'll have to get used to ladies talking a lot. So listen, nod, but refrain from giving advice or recommendations.
Remember that vulgar jokes are good in male company. A sense of humor is certainly welcomed by ladies, but obscenity is not acceptable. Also, do not allow any sarcastic remarks towards female colleagues.
Avoid affairs at work. Your relationship will sooner or later become public knowledge. And in the event of a separation, one of your couple will have to quit.

Avoid affairs at work

Don't complain about life . Firstly, ladies don’t like losers, and secondly, all your problems will be discussed in detail behind your back.

Start preparing in advance

If, based on the results of the interview, you were hired, you should not immediately run away, showered with gratitude, and rush to celebrate your victory with friends and family. Take a deep breath, pull yourself together, and ask your manager some important questions. To make your first day on the job as easy as possible, please check the following information:

who you will meet, who will supervise your work and who you can turn to for help and advice;
specify the work schedule;
be sure to ask if the organization has a dress code;
make a list of documents that you need to have with you for registration;
find out what software products you will have to work with so that you can study them properly at home;
Be sure to write down all the information in a notebook so you don’t forget anything.

It never hurts to additionally browse the official website of the organization you are going to work for. There you can find additional information, as well as consolidate information already received in your memory.

How not to burn out at work: tips for a newbie

For a successful career, it is very important to maintain a balance between professional activities and personal relationships.

We offer you several recommendations from psychologists that will help you stay at work and not burn out at work:

Keep your work and private life separate. It has been proven that the “always on” mode and continuous thinking about work processes create an atmosphere of anxiety. You should not check your email at home and take reports for revision.
Experts say that even thinking about work when you're at home is harmful. Thinking about it can cause anxiety, which will negatively affect both your work process and your private life. Failure to maintain a balance between your personal and professional life does more harm than good.
Take a break from thoughts about your salary and enjoy the work process. According to psychologists and sociologists, work solely for the sake of material reward is unproductive. When a person thinks about rewards, he has less motivation. The process is much more fruitful when a person engages in an activity for its own sake and the work turns into an end in itself.
Regulate the flow of information. Don't be distracted by extraneous things. When a person turns on a computer, an avalanche of useless information falls out on him in the form of advertising, social networks, news, etc. As a result, he gets distracted, and a lot of his working time is spent wandering the Internet. So, disable unnecessary apps on your phone and computer.
Don't be a workaholic. If you put work above all else, you will end up with a nervous breakdown. Believe me, no work can be more important than health, relationships, impressions and communication with loved ones.
Take a break from work. No matter how busy you are, take breaks. During lunchtime, look away from the computer and go out into the fresh air. Half an hour of rest will allow your brain to reboot and is guaranteed to lift your spirits.
Fight depression in every way possible. It has been proven that a person who comes to work while in a depressed state does not work at full capacity. Find yourself a hobby that will become your outlet after work.

It is important not to burn out at work
Finally, I would like to note that at work we think about current affairs and are rarely interested in what is happening in the lives of our colleagues. In the office, it is considered indecent to talk about a negative psychological state. Unfortunately, in many work communities it is considered taboo to talk about discomfort in the workplace.

Spend time with your new employee. You don't have to solve his problems, just be there. Don't walk past him, ask if everything is okay, if he needs help. Take some time to talk to him. The friendly attitude of colleagues towards the psychological problems of a newcomer greatly helps him adapt to a new workplace.

We wish you success and hope that our advice will help you achieve efficiency in your work.

Also read these articles for useful tips:

Motivators - for weight loss, for work, success
Demotivators for men and women for all occasions
Husband on a dating site: virtual infidelity and ways to deal with it
10 Habits of Chronically Unhappy People
The most beautiful boys in the world, Russia, Muslim: top 10, photo

What you need to do on the first day

The first day at a new job is a big challenge. Nevertheless, you need to put aside panic and turn on rational thinking. To make your work easier in the future, on the first day you need to complete the following minimum program:

Take the initiative to get to know your colleagues. Remember that you are part of an already established team, and in order to occupy a certain niche in it, you need to make an effort.
Get started organizing your workspace right away. In the future, you may simply not have time for this. In addition, this way you can create the impression of an active and hardworking person.
Try to delve as deeply as possible into all the features of work in this team and understand its atmosphere. Be observant.
Understand the specifics of your work, as well as the features of the regime. Collect and study all documentation that contains information about your rights, responsibilities and other essential conditions.

Periods

The acute adaptation stage can last up to two months. There is increased anxiety, erroneous actions, and uncertainty. There may be a realization that the new job is not what it seemed before. The tasks seem unnecessarily difficult. There is serious psychological stress. This period ends at the moment when there is a feeling that work is no longer unpredictable, I can cope with assignments, there are people who trust me as a specialist.
The optimistic period of adaptation at work occurs approximately four months after employment. The person calms down, the tension disappears. He understands that he is already “one of the people” and can cope with his job responsibilities. Due to excessive relaxation, mistakes begin to be made, both in relationships and in work. When such an individual begins to have his shortcomings pointed out, he becomes offended. This can lead to a crisis and subsequent dismissal.
Secondary stage of adaptation, about six months from the start of work. The individual assimilates all the rules of the organization. He copes with his responsibilities and becomes a full-fledged specialist.

New management

After a person gets a job at a new company, it takes him about two to three months to adapt. It is very important to find a common language not only with colleagues, but also with management. Otherwise, the person simply will not pass the probationary period. It is not for nothing that in many banks and serious organizations it is three months.

After the manager takes a closer look at the new employee during the trial period, he will draw conclusions about the advisability of keeping him for a permanent period. It is important to show all your best qualities and make a favorable impression on your superiors.