The First Day

First days at work are fascinating. They are the points in our lives which we dread and anticipate in equal measure. Where you understand what you're going to go through for 9 hours a day. The arranged marriage between employer and employee, lead up to this point where everything can change. Whatever you thought you knew about the company during your interview, and whatever you've heard through word-of-mouth, can either be wiped out or reinforced.

 

Will I fit in? Will they find me acceptable? Will I receive help to navigate the company, its people and processes, or will I be left to fend for myself?

 

Unspoken answers to that will immediately tell you how good or bad your company is.

 

What I've noticed is, a lot of the times, you have no idea how bad you've had it, until you have something better. Remember the frog that was slowly boiled to death, but didn't realize it? Getting used to the toxic environment of a workplace can make it really hard to assess your workplace as an entity.

 

You really notice when you're shocked into your reality with a jolt of positivity from an external source. Yes, let that happiness slap you a few times. Shake you up and tell you, "Wake up! And stop being complacent with mediocrity!"

 

That was me during my interview.

 

After said interview, I was on cloud nine. So pumped - like I could take on anything and anyone.

 

Enter Toxicity, my friend who kept seeding me with self-doubt.

 

"Maybe you read too much into it."

"I think you saw what you wanted to see."

"On your first day, it's all going to change."

 

Well. It did change. Toxicity is my ex now. And let me point out everything that led up to that.

  

• Open, well-lit offices

The space you work in makes all the difference. Overall neutral tones that are easy on the eyes, interspersed with plants for a breath of freshness and spike of color. Lack of clutter, presence of recycle bins (yes, they actually care about such things), it all helps to give you and your thoughts the space to roam, rather than close you in.

 

• Induction

Soon as I walked in, I was handed a schedule of meetings for my first week - which told me exactly where to go and who to meet, with each hour of the day was carefully laid out. How could a girl get lost with such a precise map?

Meeting with all key people from each department of the company is important - regardless of their relevance. This shows you that the company is interested to get you integrated as soon as possible, and want you to efficiently navigate the company yourself in a time of need.

Inductions speak a whole lot about how the company likes to do their business. With transparency and clear process is always a good indicator.

 

• You feel less burdened

Believe it or not, us humans are constantly pumping out silent information into our environment. We are all tuned into our surrounding, sub-consciously receiving these signals. So you can imagine the massive amount of data you receive when you first walk into a space that's been occupied by the same people for years. Good vibes have a way of settling you down and calming your nerves. This tells you that your work environment is constructive, which is a great environment to work in.

 

• People are quick to smile

This one's a no brainer. They are loud when they work, they have their own support system to lean on, and are open and welcoming. Constant communication amongst each other and between various hierarchy levels, a multi-cultural environment built on respect, an open door policy with the upper management, and people truly caring about the work they do.

All signs of a happy workforce.

 

• Guilt doesn't drive people to work.

No one feels compelled to constantly judge the decisions of their management, because of the trust that's deep routed in the foundations of their employer-employee relationship. Hence, no one talks about the company, rather talk about the work. Prolonged bouts of idle chatter are almost non-existent.

And if ever judgement is passed on the company, it is to say just one thing - "It's a great place to work. I've worked for <insert number> years. I've grown with the company. The people are cool. You'll love it."

 

That's it. And everyone's back to work. All cogs meshing artfully in this well oiled machine.

 

I do hope that everyone gets the opportunity to work in an organization of this sort at least once in their lifetime.  Lessons learned at places like these stick with you forever, and change you for the better.

 

From yours happily.