🐾 New Place, New Rules

Ever notice how stepping into a new place—whether it’s Home Depot or a new workplace—comes with its own set of expectations? For Oscar, navigating the aisles means adapting to new rules (and maybe sniffing out new opportunities). For us, it’s about understanding team norms and the organizational culture that shape how we work and interact.

Team norms and culture are the "unwritten rules" that guide behavior, set expectations, and help us find our footing in a new environment. Just like Oscar, when we take the time to observe, adapt, and align with these norms, we can thrive in new spaces—whether it’s a new job, team, or role.

There are pitfalls if you don’t understand the rules, including:

🔹 Missteps that lead to misunderstandings or conflicts
🔹 Being seen as difficult to work with
🔹 Reduced trust and credibility with colleagues

Mastering the unwritten code enables you to:

🔹 Build stronger relationships and foster trust within your team.
🔹 Navigate new situations with greater ease and confidence.
🔹 Recognize the best practices for driving change.

How do you learn and navigate the rules, and when do you challenge them?

✔️ 𝗢𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲: Pay attention to how people interact, communicate, and make decisions.
✔️ 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Seek clarity on norms, processes, or expectations that aren’t obvious.
✔️ 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Before challenging or adapting rules, understand their purpose and the potential consequences of pushing boundaries.
✔️ 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁: If a rule conflicts with your values or hinders progress, consider how you can respectfully challenge it or introduce a new perspective.

Reflection:

• What’s one “unwritten rule” you’ve uncovered in your workplace?

• How has it influenced the way you work?

• Have you ever made a deliberate choice not to follow a norm?