Getting to Know Your New Team

It’s October now, and people are starting to settle into their new environments. Whether that’s a new workplace, a new classroom setting, or simply an added extracurricular in their schedule, regular meetings are on the rise again and this means getting accustomed to new ways of working and team bonding.

This can be quite nerve wracking for some people! Settling into a new environment is stressful because so many worries pop into your mind: Am I good enough? Am I funny enough? What if people don’t like me?

It’s not like you don’t know how to work in a team. Everybody has teamwork skills - I mean that’s why we put it on our resume…right? Regardless, even if you do have well developed teamwork skills, it’s okay to feel anxious about starting in a new setting, especially if it’s virtual or hybrid.

So let’s face our fears! Life is all about facing those challenging situations and proving to people you can do what they think you can’t. Getting on calls with people like Seth Godin is definitely facing a challenge, so it’s safe to say we’ve been in this situation before. So hey, don’t stress too much because so many of us are in the exact same spot.

How Teamwork Has Changed During the Pandemic

I think we all remember being back at in-person classes and getting put into groups to work on a project. It was easy to introduce yourself, and you were able to put a name to the face that you saw regularly during those classes. But what happens now with the cameras off?

So we’re faced with a new concept - online teamwork. Who initiates things? Should everyone turn their cameras on? We don’t know about you, but everything becomes a little more awkward when things are virtual. You can actually hear the silence when no one’s talking, because people are forced to look into their cameras. Otherwise, you don’t know what they’re looking at.

In person teamwork was easier because conversation flowed naturally. You could analyze body language better, and the silence wasn’t as loud because side conversations could be going on, or people could be on their phones or taking notes.

Non verbal cues were also a huge indicator of how a conversation is going. If everyone is sitting laid back, in a comfortable position, then you know the meeting or conversation isn’t going to be a serious one. In an online setting, it’s hard to see those little nonverbal cues.

So then what’s the fix?

Learn About the Team Atmosphere

The best way to make the “fitting in” process as easy as possible is to take note of the work culture when you first arrive. If you’re in-person, what are people wearing? How are people sitting? Are there side conversations going on?

If the meeting is virtual, take note of how people come into the meeting. Does casual conversation last long? If you only get to interact with your coworkers during scheduled meetings, learn what the company’s values are. This can help you achieve a better idea of what the team stands for, and perhaps give you an insight into what’s appreciated and what’s not.

For example, the Legacy team has their own values they stand by during the year. This includes honesty, accountability, hard work, and dedication. We put our all into the work that we do, and we take ownership for the things we do.

Another example is our brand’s motto. Fail fast, fail forward, but take the time to reflect. It’s okay to make mistakes, but every mistake will teach you something, so learn from it. We are definitely not perfectionists, but we work our butts off and that’s something you can take from to help adapt into the work environment.

Legacy’s Take on Ideal Team Bonding

Another important thing to note is people’s working or management styles. This one will take a little longer to get, but if you pay attention closely you’ll be able to pick up on subtle hints. What we mean is that if your manager is constantly asking for the team’s opinion, it means they value different perspectives and group brainstorming.

If you notice that one person always has a calendar on hand and schedules things in, it might mean they don’t like doing things super last minute. It might be worth it to take note of this and when you need to work with them, you can plan ahead of time!

You’re never going to get to know people if you’re only talking to them in a work setting. Especially when virtual, meetings are really only scheduled to discuss specific work topics - never to just “chat”. To change this, maybe take the initiative to set up those quick calls to get to know others.

Another fun way to encourage team bonding virtually is to set up “leisure only” calls. This might include playing online games such as Kahoot or Quiplash. It could also include setting up a virtual movie night where you also have a Netflix party set up to chat during the movie, without actually disturbing anyone 😉

If you’re working in person, a great way to get to know each person individually is to do a speed dating session. That way everyone can introduce themselves personally and you don’t have to awkwardly address a whole group with some cheesy icebreakers.

Getting accustomed to a new work environment can be difficult, and sometimes awkward. But when you take the time to pick up on the little things, and go out of your way to get to know someone on a personal level, you’ll catch on quickly and things will be a lot easier than expected 😁