Help!! I dont fit in..

You join a new organization.. new people, new processes, new culture.. you are treading very slowly. People are unhappy with you  but they don’t tell you. Your line  manager knows your work and it seems they are happy with it. So you start getting comfortable. And suddenly your manager,  your colleagues, your reports turn around and say. – All is well but we are sorry, we don’t like your work.

As an employee you are confused. You think hard you go back to your review and think, how come, why was I not told, why was I not made aware? It was a matter of simply telling me, that I was going off track. Then you start to see the signs. People talking in hushed tones, waiting for you to leave the room, ensuring that things are not said in your presence. Why did you overlook them? It was probably because I wanted to fit in.  I wanted to fit in so badly, that I chose to ignore all signs that told me that my current approach was not working.

So what now? You have received a feedback … You know the problem... What more do you do?

Well it’s not late... Start afresh... go back to people. Take the first step … start a conversation. Listen to them. And follow through. Do not get defensive. Remember the minute you get defensive, is the second you stop learning. Because even though you are hearing what is being said; in your mind you have a counter argument and justification for all your actions.

What do you do now that you have tons of information on what you could have done differently. Do you change everything as people want you to? NO. But you need the right filters. The challenge is to find the right filters. So when you are taking working on an action plan. Run it by different sets of people. One is your line manager, obviously and others are your colleagues who have been working longer than you and third are your team. However you have got to be very alert about the kind of expectation that you ought to be having. So when dealing with line manager, her input will be critical from overall organization perspective. Colleagues would more tell about the culture, and their own expectations and team would be telling you more about the task as is done.

Once outlined, please make an action plan and share with everyone, all your stakeholders. And let them know that you have full intentions to follow through their advice.

Remember, it will still not be hunky dory. But at least you will have more confidence and your awareness of your surroundings are much better.