How to build a relationship with teammates and network at a new job ?
I’ve been at this new job for almost a week now and the 3-4 people I’ve been introduced too are always busy ( in meetings , on calls , working and looking super busy ) so the only time I get to chat with them i use it to cover a few project related questions . I haven’t been introduced by my manager to the entire group ( except 2 ppl directly ) in a meeting or conference-call or even over email. I am an ambivert so I don’t mind talking to people but I also don’t want to be overbearing . What should I do to build a relationship with my teammates and also with people in other teams and the firm in general ?
Invite them to lunch on a 1:1 basis and tell them you’re trying to get to know the team better and learn from any advice they may have
Thanks ... Most of the time their calendars are booked out ... some even block theirs to avoid getting meeting invites ... what to do then ?
Shoot them a note that says something to the effect of: “Hey I’d love to grab lunch or coffee to get to know you better and learn from any advice/experience you’d be willing to share! Looks like your calendar is pretty booked up, is there a day that works best for you?”
A week is not much time. Part of the process is letting done things develop organically. Form, storm, norm, perform. You have yet to form. I'd give it 3 to 4 weeks until you get concerned. Be proactive growing your knowledge in the interim. Documentation is great if you have it. Even if docs are out of date, a misconception from bad docs is easily understood and reflects on the docs more than you.
The team is already in perform stage and I’m the only new person ....
Take your time.
Google: “boz career cold start algorithm”, do that, show up, have a good attitude, notice personal habits. More importantly, give it time.
Never saw this before but I like it. Going to start using this myself.
Here's a link. http://boz.com/articles/career-cold-start.html
Build personal relationships outside your team (skip level manager, other teams you like, running teams, etc). I found an amazing set of friends who joined the day I joined as we were in the same training batch :) so that helped. Build professional relationships with your team.(talk about tech, conferences, work, etc). Less personal stuff cause if you don't like something about your teammate... You don't want that affect your mood and work life.
Do you need a good relationship with them? Just be productive and unless they're blocking you on stuff, go with the flow.
I have been doing that all my life - doing my job , going with the flow ... but I’ve realized people who build up relationships have an edge over others ... as I progress in my career I want to acquire that skill too
Seems heavily dependent on the team. Of course make allies where possible, but at the end of the day produce and make yourself hard to replace, that's where many folks find success.