Joining an Established Team: How to Find Your Footing and Earn Trust Early

Joining an established team is challenging - you’re stepping into existing dynamics and set ways of working - here are a few strategies to help:

• Take stock of how you show up. Your personality and style will shape those crucial first impressions. Reflect on past feedback and think about how you can leverage your strengths while staying mindful of any potential challenges. Have a game plan.

• Embrace your fresh perspective. You don’t need to understand everything at once. Your newness is a strength - use your fresh eyes to observe and gather insights. Let these observations shape how you contribute and offer feedback to the team.

• Build trust thoughtfully. Trust takes time, and your colleagues will be assessing whether they can trust you. Pay attention to how the role itself influences trust dynamics. Ask about your predecessor: What worked? What didn’t? These insights can be revealing.

• Balance learning with contributing. While onboarding, keep your progress visible. Share your observations to add value even as you’re still getting up to speed. This will create natural opportunities to contribute meaningfully and earn your place at the table.

Entering a new team is never easy, but with these strategies, it can be a smoother process.