When you join a new company or team you must remember:
You as a new recruit might have more talent than existing team members however they have more experience.
It’s a privilege, not a right, to play/work in a top team regardless of how talented you are.
Your place in any team is temporary and it will be in every team you work with, or as he put it, “Your jersey is rented. You’re replaceable”
Developing sound levels of emotional intelligence is essential. “Don’t get sensitive, be coachable.”
“Habits create who you are and if you’re habits aren’t changing, you ain’t changing.”
Never be late for meetings, it shows a lack of commitment and loses you the trust of others and of course their respect.
“Be a good listener.” This is a learnable skill, if you have a problem with it… fix it.
Work hard to earn the trust of the leader and senior team members.
Adapted from a summary of “The Incredible Speech New NFL Recruits Got This Year” (June 29th 2011) – on the Business Insider Website. Read the full article at: http://www.businessinsider.com/15-career-tips-from-herm-edwards-nfl-speech-2011?op=1 where they also have the link to the actual speech on YouTube
Important point: Fitting into a new team is never easy however the tips here and of course the full list referenced above will give any new recruit a good start. I once conducted a survey in a company I worked with an asked existing staff if they accepted new company hires immediately because the company had put the trust in the new hires by employing them in the first place. The emphatic answer was no, not for some months until they had “proved themselves”. Lets be honest whether its formally documented or not all new jobs come with a six month probation period. Guess who decides if you pass probation or not, your peers and ‘subordinates’… not the management, however they will see how you relate to the team, the team will inform them on how well you fit and if you don’t you’re out.
