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The New Kid on the Block: 4 ways to build rapport with your new co-workers

She did it! Cynthia landed her dream job. The only downside was that she would have to relocate and leave behind her family and friends, which made her a bit sad… However, she knew it was time for her to spread her wings, and this was just the job to do it with. This was the type of position she fantasized about in college. It was a real dream come true. She would be working in a beautiful building with tons of amenities, a great salary, and excellent benefits. It was everything she could have hoped for… that is until after about 2 weeks, and then reality finally set in, and she realized that she was “The New Kid”. What is the “New Kid” syndrome in the workplace? Simply put, it’s when an external hire enters their first few weeks on the job. Well, after those first few weeks Cynthia’s journey started to become pretty tough. She felt like an island. She was alone at her desk most of the day. She ate lunch alone. She took her breaks alone. She wandered aimlessly around the building constantly getting lost, and as a result, her assignments were being delivered late, which was directly affecting her performance. She hadn’t started the relationship-building process, so she had no one to really help her. Cynthia was at her wit's end. She honestly felt like just giving up, but she knew she had come too far in the journey to quit. She knew that this was what she wanted to do as a career; she just needed help getting over that “New Kid” hump, so she reached out to her old mentor for assistance.


Here are 4 tips they shared:


1. The Grand Introduction – The first step in building relationships at work is a confident and memorable introduction. This introduction should include a welcoming smile, an inviting handshake, information about who you are, what department you work in. Remember to have a very open approach, and by all means remember their names. You can garner favor fairly quickly in their eyes if you do.


2. Be Comfortable Asking for help - Remember, you’re the “New Kid”, you’re not expected to know everything. Make sure to show gratitude when you are helped. Example: “Thank you so much, Mary, I wouldn’t have found that floor without you.” It will let them know that you truly appreciated their assistance and they are likely be open to helping you next time.


3. Engaging in Small Talk – Small talk is far more important than you think. It sets the standard for comfort levels around those that you have been newly introduced to. Begin with a very simple topic, such as hobbies or professional interests.


4. Invite Co-Workers to Lunch/Dinner – There is no easier way to build a bond than over a great pizza or a good plate of pasta.Click this text to start editing. This block is a basic combination of a title and a paragraph. Use it to welcome visitors to your website, or explain a product or service without using an image. Try keeping the paragraph short and breaking off the text-only areas of your page to keep your website interesting to visitors.

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