First day at work - dos and donts on your big day

So it’s your first day in the new job - here are a few tips to help you to set off on the right foot:

On your marks....

• Remember that the impact you make in the first few days will have a lasting effect on the way you are perceived by your employer and other staff.
• Use the opportunity to adopt a new approach re areas that, in the past, you had problems with e.g. delegating, communicating.
• Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth relatively shut for the first few days until you establish the lay of the land.
• Make a point of remembering the names of the people you will come into contact with regularly (jot them down in your little black book if it helps).
• Watch, listen and, if in doubt, ask!

Find your feet

• As soon as feasibly possible request a meeting with your new boss to run through your job description. Ask questions. Better to be honest now while you are being ‘championed’ rather than 6 months down the line.
• Establish where you fit into the heirarchy of the household - you don’t want to be seen delegating to staff who are not within your remit or failing to direct someone who is.
• Establish the personal relationships (if any) within the household - is the Gardener in a relationship with the Housekeeper? This is important stuff!
• Once you are confident re all of the above call a staff meeting of those under your control and give them the opportunity to raise areas in which they have problems or concerns. Follow this up with one-on-one meetings afterwards. Their being happy and productive in their work reflects well on you so this will pay dividends in the future.
• Who is disgruntled? Is there someone that feels hard done by? Maybe they feel that they should have had your job rather than you?

It’s not just who you know....

• It’s all too easy to form special relationships with some members of the work force in the beginning. We’re talking about friendship here - nothing more! Avoid this. Some staff will be friendly towards you, others may be waiting to see how you perform and are so witholding judgement - good for them. Don’t alienate the cautious ones by becoming overly friendly to individuals or a clique.
• Any job environment or household is full of internal politics and gossip - do not give anyone the ammunition that could come back to haunt you later.
• Be friendly, professional and polite to everyone. Once you are secure in your position and understand all of the above THEN you can consider changes that might need to be made.
• You’ll soon spot the staff who need help and direction. Offer it to them in a professional and friendly way. Help people out in any way you can (without being taken advantage of) and you will soon be the respected professional that you deserve to be.