How Unwritten Rules Shape Your Culture, Unlike Your Vision

Employees pay attention to behaviors, not words

Employees pay attention to behaviors, not words

Unwritten rules keep newcomers in the dark. Pic by Will Stewart

“Let me tell you how things work here.”

The first day at a new job is rough.

We are excited and proud but also fell nervous. Will I fit in? Will the reality of the job match my desires?

The first day at a job is when expectations meet reality. And that’s why both employers and employees feel anxious.

The first contact with the company’s culture makes us wonder if we’ve made the right decision.

That’s what happened to a former client recently when she had just finished her onboarding at her new job. Maggie was sitting at her new desk while trying to memorize the company’s vision statement.

“Let me tell you how things work here.” — someone from the spontaneous welcome committee said.

This aspiring leader was reminding Maggie of the most important lesson at a new job. Fitting-in is more than just being liked. It’s about behaving according to the unwritten rules that govern an organizati…