Connecting with the people you work with

By Michael Firman, MEA Chairman 

Working in events I’ve met a lot of people who share a passion for what they do. It is what many people dream of doing – sometimes you’ve got to question why when there’s a lot of pressure for things to go right, with tight time frames and challenging budgets.

Working in events is not always full of fun, there are dull tasks to do too and it can often be very stressful. There are long hours, time away from family and friends, demanding customers, unreasonable deadlines, and the fear of failure!

Combine that with the fact that it's a live experience, which you only get one shot at, and that makes for very stressful work. Not everyone can handle that sort of pressure.

But nothing beats the feeling when an event comes together as planned; the feeling you have when something long planned for comes to life is simply very hard to beat and when you can share these moments with a team of like-minded people who have been working long hours to make that moment happen.

In my early days in events and exhibitions, someone said to me “Once you’re on that rollercoaster, it’s pretty hard to get off“. And they were right. It’s quite a dynamic and rewarding industry we work in. But that doesn’t mean anyone could work in events!

It can be difficult for newcomers in our industry to adapt or fit in. I’ve seen first-hand how tough it is for new employees to fit into our unique environment. There is no simple answer to how to fit in at work when you are new, even when you arrive with a high level of motivation and enthusiasm.

Becoming part of a team and adapting to its dynamics is nothing like when you try to include yourself in any other social situation. We’ve all seen the person who seems so desperate to make friends that it turns people away. Reciprocating the need for forming new friendships is not always what your work colleagues are looking for in a new employee.

It is rare to be immediately welcomed into an established team when you are new so it’s important to take time to look around and observe to discover the unspoken rules – who to speak to if you need to find out information or how people interact with each other.

Remember that when you arrive in a new job you do not yet know your new colleagues or the relationships and alliances. Don’t be in a hurry to make yourself known, to bond with them, or to give an image of being on their level.

In the beginning, you should observe and listen more than give your opinion, especially if you want to integrate positively among your new colleagues. Being approachable and friendly will help you come across in a positive way but don’t accidently become too familiar as a way to ‘fit in’ and run the risk of being seen as annoying and unprofessional.

People are usually nice and approachable when we start working in a new team. However, making edgy comments and overplaying humour when we don’t yet have confidence with colleagues who have been around longer and already know each other will make for a dreadful start.

Everyone wants to know how to fit in at work when they are new, but it isn’t always easy: when we arrive, we have to become familiar with new people, names, tasks, company culture, systems and processes. We are all nervous when we arrive, we get saturated with information and we make mistakes, but we must be resilient and humble enough to accept it as a necessary part of the journey.

With the various office friendships and cliques that naturally spring up in the workplace, some employees may have a hard time fitting in. Ironically trying to fit in is the last thing you should do.

In addition to being cautious and paying attention to what is going on around us, it is important that we gradually become involved in the dynamics of a new team and adapt to the company in general. What really matters to the team is if you get your work done and make a significant contribution.

The bottom line is you have no control over whether certain people at work are going to like you or not, but you can’t force it. Fortunately, you do have control over the things you say and do, and performing in a way that inspires your work colleagues to invest in you, which will gain the team's trust and respect. So cut yourself some slack, do your job, and then go home to family and friends who love you.