5 Ways to make the right impression in your new workplace

Having the right attitude when you move into the world of business is very important. Being in the forces has already installed many qualities into you that you should make sure you don’t undervalue as you move into the civilian world. You already have a strong work ethic and know all about how to network and build relationships within a new workplace. Also, your ability to adapt to an ever changing working environment should be second to none. These qualities all fit well into any workplace and you will quickly benefit from having them.

There are however two key difference that separates the civilian workplace to that of the military. The first one is that is that nobody HAS to be there, it is everyone’s personal choice to be in that room on that day. Even though some may feel tethered due to personal commitments, particularly, those of a financial nature, everybody there can walk away at any point without facing any sort of disciplinary action that transcends the workplace.

Secondly, inefficient, problematic people who are not making a positive contribution to the cause can be removed. The fact that you’re been drawn to this article means that this is unlikely to be your profile, but it does highlight that how you’re perceived by those that really matter, really matters!

Here are five key areas to pay attention to when you join your first business arena.

1. Show that you’re keen to learn. You already have a lot of life experiences, probably above and beyond in variety than those of many of your new colleagues, but collectively they are the ones who have all the information that you need now to progress in your new role. Show to everyone that you are keen to learn how the business works and how you can most effectively add value within your new organisation. Although others will naturally want to hear about your life in the military along the way, make sure that your full attention is focused on discovering how to push your new career forward.

2. Align yourself with successful people. By observing those around you, you will quickly find out who are the movers and shakers in whichever company you join. Study how they act and try to find out what values they live by that enable them to push ahead of their colleagues. You don’t need to act exactly like them, I’m not suggesting a personality transplant here, but I am suggesting that you understand how they operate and how that makes them successful. Find out exactly what, when and how they they do the various components of their role and then think how you can incorporate a similar work ethic into your new role. Also, don’t let others who are less successful divert your attention. You should be friendly with everyone but I’d recommend not aligning yourself with those who rationalise their own poor performance by continually berating and finding fault with those who are more effective than themselves. You will definitely meet colleagues who are like this and by all means you can like them, just don’t be like them!

3. Be part of the solution. Lets get one thing clear, there are no perfect workplaces. By this I mean that there will always be something that has the potential to hold you back. This could
be related to the systems you use on a daily basis, the colleagues that you liaise with or the products and services that your company offers to it’s customers. Whatever it is, it’s best to ask two questions whenever you come up against such a challenge. Firstly, is there anyway of making a change to the root cause of the issue that will improve things (and is this change realistically likely to happen..)? Secondly, if not, how can you most effectively work so that the issue in question has the least effect on your progress. This is a simple exercise in thinking positively which will highlight to all of those who matter that you are a positive force within their business. Many people will waste significant parts of their day complaining about how they could be much more productive if only this or that were different. The only thing that really needs to change for these individuals is their mindset. I’d recommend that you put into practise the thought process outlined above from day one!

4. Look the part. For the majority of people leaving the military this should be second nature, but looking the part isn’t just about dressing well. The way that you act in different circumstances also defines your stature within a workplace. For instance, how do you react under pressure? Do you take stock of what’s going on around you, then make a decision of what course of action to take before quickly putting your plan into action, or do you panic and make rash decisions that have no overall positive effect? Also, how do you relate to those around you? Are you proactive, friendly and helpful to everyone, or do you let yourself get involved in petty company politics? The way that you are perceived will be dictated entirely by the way that you personally and physically present yourself, so make sure that you both look and act smart.

5. Set goals and work hard. Goal setting is often talked about yet seldom done effectively. You should be clear about what what you want to achieve and, as importantly, when you intend to achieve it. Make sure that you write your overall objectives down and then set dates for when you want to achieve each one. Next, work out what the small streps are that need to be taken to achieve each objective before also putting dates against these. You then need to work hard to make sure that you complete each step along the way and you will achieve your goals. Being seen as someone who ‘gets things done’ will reflect very positively on you and will in turn help you progress quickly. This process will help you in all areas of your life, but will be particularly effective in the world of business.

In the world of business the ultimate judgement of your success will be based on the results that you produce, but if you put into practice all of the above the required results will automatically follow. You’ll also be judged a force for good within your new organisation, which means that you’ll often benefit from better opportunities coming your way.