When you join an organization, you have a short window of time to adapt to its culture. It’s the old 90-day rule. And we know too many talented individuals who have stumbled in their new company because they failed to read the cultural tea leaves. This happens because most organizations don’t explain the cultural rules to newcomers, and new hires are so focused on the job and the new boss that they overlook the rules’ profound influence. Yet understanding them plays a big role in your initial success. Being cognizant of not just what your colleagues do but how they work matters if you want to be effective and be perceived well.
When You Start a New Job, Pay Attention to These 5 Aspects of Company Culture
Relationships, communication, decisions, individualism, and change.
March 29, 2018
Summary.
Starting a new job is one of the most important — and challenging — parts of any professional’s career. All too often, employees struggle to understand the cultural norms of their new organizations, leading to a variety of workplace conflicts. To set yourself up for success, the authors suggest paying close attention to five key dimensions of your new company’s culture: how your organization values and cultivates relationships, how people tend to communicate, how people make decisions, whether individuals or groups are valued, and how accepting people are of change. Developing a clear understanding of these five aspects of company culture will give you the tools you need to be effective in your new role.
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New!
HBR Learning
Career Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Career Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
What's your next career move? Learn how to set yourself up for success.