New at Work? Prioritize Relationship Building
Posted by [email protected] on Apr. 4, 2022 / Subscribe 0
By Lindsay Guinan, Director, Orr Group
We’ve all heard a lot lately about the great resignation – the idea that workers are leaving their jobs in droves in search of new work. Over the summer of 2021, I found myself in just that position. After more than ten years in higher education fundraising, I was ready to explore a broader world of nonprofit fundraising and in September 2021, I joined Orr Group, a consulting firm that specializes in nonprofit fundraising and strategy. Orr Group has offices in New York and Washington, DC – two places where I am not.
My position, and a number of others at the firm, are fully remote. So, while I had been working remotely since the start of the pandemic, I suddenly had a new job and a new industry to learn out of my home office. Onboarding to a new position is difficult no matter the circumstance, but doing it while 100+ miles away from my closest colleague was a whole new challenge. My colleagues, Kennedy Bennett, Amanda Nelson, and I are co-authoring an article coming out later this month about how we have found success working as a company and with our clients in a hybrid model. Below are three tactics I’ve used over the last six months to get to know Orr Group and allow them to get to know me.
Be proactive in your approach.
Use time to your advantage. As a new person, I knew I could ask colleagues to meet with me to learn more about themselves. Without the advantage of impromptu chats around the coffee machine, I reached out to people in the company to set up 15 minutes to talk. For those who aren’t new, challenge yourself to setting up one virtual coffee a month with someone not on your team. In a hybrid world you have to be intentional and create these moments of interaction.
Take advantage of in-person gatherings when you can.
If you can go to the office, go! We know there is magic that happens when we gather with our colleagues. Don’t reinvent the wheel – maximize your time and visit the office when there is a retreat, social gathering, or important presentation already planned.
Go back to basics.
When it comes down to it, rely on the basic tenants of relationship building – authenticity and follow-up. Relationship building takes time and attention. You don’t form great relationships overnight. Bring your authentic self to your colleagues and dedicate time to learning about them, their interests, and their work. Build time into your calendar to do regular check-ins with your teammates to keep relationships strong.
Building relationships in your office, whether virtually or in-person, will deepen your sense of belonging in the organization and help you navigate your new role. Now that I’m six-months into my new position things look different. I feel more confident in my position and my role as a leader at Orr Group and yet I still call on those people I first connected with to ask questions and to brainstorm new ideas. When the initial onboarding has an end date, the collaboration continues.
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