Six Communications Tips for New Job Success

Congratulations! After a round of interviews, a personality test, drug screening and background and credit checks you got the job. The coaching advice on how to answer interview questions paid off. That was the easy part. Now, you are going to have to successfully communicate and build relationships with the rest of the management team, your peers, team members, other departments, clients and customers. Good communication skills, especially in the first few months of a new job, are critical to job success. They can determine how well you work in your current position and your future with the company.

Starting a new job can be awkward, and most new employees want to fit in quickly. Here are six communications tips to help make your first impression positive and help you become one of the team:

1. Be visible and friendly. Hiding out at your desk with your head buried in your computer for eight hours a day may give the impression that you are aloof or anti-social. While there will be a lot to learn, taking time to talk with your co-workers and asking questions will show you are interested in them and the job.
2. Take responsibility for learning. New employees are expected to ask questions. Asking the same questions over and over, or insisting someone show you how to complete a task repeatedly can make you appear lazy and irresponsible. Ask questions, take notes, go over manuals or other reference materials. Sign up for some online training for the systems you will be using. Explore the company Intranet, and read all the documentation you are given at orientation, including the Employee handbook.
3. Be careful with, “…at my old company, we did it this way.” If you thought your previous company did things so perfectly, why did you leave? Comments comparing your old company’s practices with the new can sound like criticism or trying to make yourself seem superior. Practice listening and learning. Be open to different ways of doing things. Then, if there is something that can definitely save time, money or energy, share it with your boss or team members at the appropriate time.
4. Respect the chain of command. If you are part of a team and have a question, go to your team or section leader instead of leaping over her and going straight to her boss. The same with emails. Respecting the process and the individuals who have earned their positions will earn you their respect as well.
5. If there is a problem with a co-worker, be direct. Come at it from your perspective, be assertive but not confrontational. If the situation continues despite your efforts, then go to your supervisor. If not, your co-workers may see you as a threat or someone who would rather whine to the boss than try to solve problems in the team. Many problems turn out to be simple misunderstandings. Getting the boss involved will certainly escalate things and most likely put you in a bad light as well.
6. Participate and share ideas. Share your expertise with others when they ask for help or have a question. You bring your unique skills and experience to the job. Be willing to take a risk and speak out at a meeting, offer ideas in a discussion and work on a process improvement team.

 

The more opportunities you have to communicate will benefit you, the team and the company as a whole.

Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a workplace consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for communicationsjobs.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing Alto II with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and creating original gift items available on http://www.etsy.spoolhardy.com/. You can read more of her blogs at communicationsjobsblog.com and view additional job postings on Nexxt.