Author: Dee Ann Hirsch

FM Issue: March/April 2017

You’ve landed your next job! Now, how do you now fully integrate into a new a team? How do you become a valued member of an established, talented group?

There are a lot of articles that speak to different strategies for integration into a new team, but in the end, it is all about your ability to ADAPT. Adaptation not only on a personal level related to the specific job you are moving into, but also adaptation on a total career level – it is something that should never really stop. Moreover, in the venue management industry adaptation is a daily reality.

To help you ADAPT to your new gig, try remembering it as a simple acronym.

Attitude — Attitude is the sibling of aptitude. By getting the job offer, you presumably already have the requisite skills. Once you start that new position, it is your attitude that will lay the foundation for your success — so it is important to find the balance between confidence and humility. While you want to let your strengths shine, it is just as important to realize that every day there is an opportunity to learn something new.

Before you rush in to make a suggestion or change in processes, be sure to observe what is already in place and understand why it is in place. Your new contribution may well be the best thing ever, but if it is rushed and unwelcomed it may never come to fruition. Even worse, you risk being seen as arrogant and shunned by your new team. By approaching each day as a learning opportunity, you start from a humbler beginning.

Dependability (I.e., Deliver) – It goes without saying that being a dependable co-worker is one of the best ways to become a trusted team member. Being dependable extends well beyond the basics of arriving on time and completing tasks on or before the due dates. Being dependable means staying late to help a teammate with a project even when you have plans. Being dependable means being knowledgeable about your company, clients and industry. Being dependable means doing what you say you will do. Being dependable means being there when someone else wouldn’t be. In short, take every opportunity to contribute to the success of one of your co-workers.

Dependability also means being the authority on your position. Master it and make it your own. When you do, it is hard for others to overlook your outstanding performance. Certain track athletes will train for their race with a buzzer. When the buzzer sounds, they know when they are supposed to be at a certain point on the track. By the time race day comes around, the cadence and rhythm of the race are so ingrained in the athlete, they know exactly how to perform in any given scenario. They master their race, and they make it their own.

Awareness – Being aware of what is happening throughout the organization is critical in gaining an understanding of how your job responsibilities contribute to the team’s success. It also means you are aware of external influences that impact your position. When I started working for my current employer, one of the best pieces of advice I received was to learn as much as possible about the inner workings of my company as quickly as possible. I really didn’t know anyone else who worked for the City of Dallas except the person who suggested I apply for the job and the gentleman who hired me. I had no previous work experience in the governmental sector. There was no quick and easy way to understand the myriad of acronyms, processes, and political nuances that directly impacted my position; however, I noticed that my manager and our GM frequently went to lunch together. It took a couple of days, but in a short time the lunch duo occasionally became a trio, and I quickly began to get the lay of the land. 

The key to awareness is personal interaction. To keep up with all that happens in a busy work place, we are often encouraged to use our electronic tools. But, all of our electronic devices often distract us from those regular personal interactions that help deepen our relationships with colleagues. Building time into your schedule to create or take advantage of face-to-face bonding opportunities is one of the most effective ways to become aware in your position. 

Proactivity – In this business, we have to plan ahead, but being proactive is more than just knocking out that to-do list early. Being proactive is anticipating the needs of your clients, co-workers, boss and patrons. When that advance preparation occurs, you become a solutions-oriented asset and are much more likely to be seen as a value to your team. Proactivity is a hallmark of forward thinking individuals, and it is the natural outgrowth of awareness.

Team-Orientation — While the T in ADAPT may seem obvious, it is easy for new staff members to become so focused on learning the job that they miss opportunities to be a member of the team. Much like Dependability, Team-Orientation puts the focus onto your team and not yourself. A Team-Orientation means seeking the success of the team as a whole, regardless of whether your individual effort is rewarded. You can think of Team-Orientation just like a spark plug in an engine; without it the engine just won’t go. Without Team-Orientation, your team will not thrive.

Ultimately, smoothly integrating into a new team takes time and patience. Combine those two things with the ADAPT strategy and you can establish yourself as a valued team member. And these same simple strategies will help you elevate your performance in preparation for your next, next job. 

Dee Ann Hirsch is Senior Park Manager at City of Dallas, Fair Park and Community Services.