If you’re starting a new job, it’s easy to let your excitement and eager attitude get you in trouble in your first couple of weeks. Chances are, you’re going to be the “teacher’s pet” for a while, as every boss is excited to show off her shiny new hire. They want to give you opportunities to succeed and rack up small wins to make you look good. But be careful, because these small wins can come at the expenses of employee relationships. You could become one of two things or both:
- The well-liked by leadership new girl. You’re doing your job, you’re learning fast, you’re excited to get ahead, and that means leadership loves you.
- The hated-by-her-coworkers girl. Being too excited and eager could mean you’re making suggestions that, frankly, piss off your new coworkers. That, combined with being well-liked by the higher ups, could compromise your relationships internally.
How, then, can you be careful to balance these two personas? Follow the advice of Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter in “10 Bush-League No-Nos When Starting a New Job.“
My favorite piece of Jacqui’s advice?
Identify and stay away from negative employees. Nothing shortens a career faster than feeding into the negative vibes coming from those who are unhappy in their position and use every opportunity to bring others down with them. These types really like to glom on to new employees, in particular, mostly because the rest of the staff won’t give them the time of day. Guard yourself from this soul-stealing monster at all costs, or suffer wallowing in the same stew.
About the Author: Marcy Twete
Marcy Twete is the Founder and CEO of Career Girl Network and the author of the book “You Know Everybody! A Career Girl’s Guide to Building a Network That Works.” At Career Girl Network, Marcy provides women with information, resources, and networking to empower them in their careers and to advance the work of women in business as a whole. Prior to launching Career Girl Network, Marcy worked in numerous nonprofit organizations and as a consultant in the field of nonprofit fundraising, marketing, and community relations. Marcy is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and a native of rural North Dakota. She is the Vice Chair of the Chicago Board of Directors for Step Up Women’s Network in Chicago and a member of the Advisory Board for Girls on the Run Twin Cities, and is dedicated to advancing the work of organizations that move the needle for women and girls worldwide.
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