Elainy Mata, host of the HBR podcast New Here, gives advice on excelling in a new job. Topics covered include workplace culture, navigating office etiquette, asking for a raise, owning mistakes, and main takeaways on starting a new job.
Observe and listen to the workplace culture, learn from experienced colleagues, and adapt communication style to boss's preferences.
Reframe the relationship with a difficult boss as a two-way dynamic, understand their motivations, and consider values alignment.
Deep dives
Thriving in a New Job
In this episode, the host discusses how to thrive in a new job with special guest Elaine Imata, the host of the podcast 'New Here' from Harvard Business Review. The episode explores questions that arise when starting a new job, such as asking for a raise, handling mistakes, and dealing with a difficult boss. Listeners are encouraged to observe and listen to the workplace culture, learn from experienced colleagues, and adapt their communication style to their boss's preferences. The importance of learning office rules, developing soft skills, and creating positive working relationships is emphasized.
Navigating a Difficult Boss
This episode delves into the challenges of dealing with a difficult boss and offers advice on how to handle the situation. The host speaks with leadership coach Robin Garrett, who suggests reframing the relationship with the boss as a two-way dynamic and understanding their motivations. Strategies such as adapting communication methods to align with the boss's preferences, learning from mentors, and considering a department or manager change are discussed. The episode also emphasizes the importance of values alignment with the boss and evaluating whether compromising on values is sustainable.
Finding Motivation at Work
The episode focuses on the topic of workplace motivation and features an interview with leadership coach Muriel Wilkins. Listeners are reminded that feeling unmotivated at different points in their career is normal. The importance of establishing a personal reason or motive for working is highlighted. Various reasons for feeling unmotivated, such as a lack of competency, affirmation, or misaligned expectations, are explored. The host suggests journaling to identify patterns in motivation levels and urges listeners to consider whether their lack of motivation is temporary or indicative of a need for a career change.
Just starting your career? Elainy Mata, host of the Harvard Business Review podcast New Here,offers advice on how to deal with issues that aren't part of the job description.