Adapting to the New Work

Environment
 Objectives

1. Should be able to understand what adapting to the

new work environment means

2. Should be able to understand how to thrive and

survive in a new workplace

3. Should be able to recognize how to optimize

performance by applying existing skills and
experience to the new environment
 What is adapting?

 To change your ideas or behavior to make them suitable for a new situation (Cambridge
dictionary).

 Any alteration in the function of an organism that results the organism to become better
fitted to survive (adapted from social studies definition).
 Adapting the new workplace, some videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg1dQDCrXps

0.04 – 3.17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4deB2QvmUCI

0.31 – 4.25

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTwauijmjSQ

0.13 – 3.42
 Adapting to the new workplace

What is the good thing about

working at a new place?

What should you do in your

early days?
 How to thrive and survive in a new workplace?

Mingle
Optimize performance
Respect the culture of the country
and of the organization
Work politics
Some tips
 1. Mingle: With colleagues
Get to know other colleagues

Be inquisitive

Speak positively

Be supportive

Show appreciation
1. Mingle: Building rapport with the management

Learn what the management

wants to achieve
Show them they can trust you
Present them with solutions and
not problems
 2. Optimize performance
 Get to know your new organization

 Communicate effectively

 Aim to achieve goals

 Reflect on your performance

 Learn and share

 Record your results and get them recognized

 Have a positive attitude

 Be open to constructive criticism

 Relax and recover

 3. Respect the culture of the country and of the organization

Watch the verbal and non-verbal cues

Listen to what people say and how they

say it

Go out on weekend lunches or dinners

with people especially those who have
been here for a while
 4. Work politics
Choose your friends wisely

Associate with positive people

Avoid ‘Dead Wood’

Avoid gossip

Focus on tasks, not people

 5. Some tips

 Know the goals of your line manager and support them

 Take the initiatives to develop your skills and knowledge

 Ask for feedback and keep a record of achievements

 Don’t do anything radical

 Add value from day one if possible

 Establish work-style parameters

 Keep your focus on career development

 Keep a balanced and positive perspective

 Scenario 1

 During your lunch break on Tuesday just before your line management meeting you meet a
returning teacher in the restaurant and you excuse yourself to attend the meeting on time and
the teacher says ‘I don’t take these meetings too seriously. I have been here for a couple of
years. To me these are waste of time and besides we get all the information through emails and
notifications, so there is no real need for us to go to these meetings. I’ll go in ten minutes or so.’

 Would you rejoin him and delay the meeting or carry on with your initial intention and why?
 Scenario 2

 During a staffroom conversation a returning teacher expresses a lot of negativity and lack of respect
for the virtual audit and the weekly lesson plan. The teacher tells you that it's just too much work, we
are expected to teach 24 hours a week and do these unnecessary admin tasks on top.

 What would you say to this teacher as a response?

 Should you interact with him on work related tasks after this interaction, why or why not?
 Scenario 3

 You are struggling with one of your classes, because the students have had a flexible teacher
(permissive or indulgent) who allowed them to get away with certain things before your arrival
and they are comparing you with him or for any other reason they have decided to stop
cooperating with you. You speak to a colleague and he advises you to bear this for the
remaining four or five weeks and don’t report it to your line manager or the management. He
carries on to say ‘ the management here only listens to the students and if you report it you will
land yourself in trouble’.

What advice would you give the teacher and what alternatives could you suggest?
 Review

What do you think of the ideas we have discussed in this

session?

Is there anything you would like to add or distract?

I have really enjoyed the session

I hope you have enjoyed the session too

It has been a great pleasure working with you

 Your feedback

It is very important for us that you provide us with your

evaluation of the workshop. Please use the below link
to leave your feedback.

https://forms.gle/yuGEHejXMmZrPrTa7
 Thank you and PD announcement

Many thanks for your attendance and contributions.

PD team is looking for volunteers to deliver workshops.

Your proposals are welcome.

Again it’s a two way process; you deliver and we provide

you with the opportunity to optimize your performance
 References
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4deB2QvmUCI

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg1dQDCrXps

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTwauijmjSQ

• https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english

• https://www.slideshare.net