You start in a new team and are full of energy to make an impact. What now? How can you learn a lot quickly and effectively, so that you can add value almost immediately? It's all about asking the right questions. And that's what I'm going to help you with in this article.
The wise man doesn't give the right answers, he poses the right questions.
– Claude Levi-Strauss
Your first few days in a new team can quickly give you those ‘first day of school’ vibes. There are so many unwritten rules, new faces, and a maze of processes to figure out. But don’t worry, starting in a new team is your golden opportunity to ask as many questions as you want. Think of it as a free pass to let your curious nature run wild.
But besides asking a lot of questions, it is essential that you also find out important information. After all, you want to get going quickly and therefore understand what the team does, why the team works in a certain way and where the team can use (your) help. How do you tackle that? For this, there are five questions that can help you on your way to give you a kickstart in a new team. This way you quickly learn to understand where your unique skills and expertise are most needed.
Of course, there are many more questions you can ask than these five, but these will at least help you get started quickly. And if you feel the need to go even deeper, don't hold back. Ask questions, be eager to learn and if you don't know what to do, just ask the same question again. Most people are willing to help you on your way without any problems. So you can just be naive. And as cliché as it may sound, there is no such thing as a stupid question.
The five questions below are not only practical in nature, but also have a link to the psychology of human interaction and team dynamics. I will briefly explain this link with each question. Moreover, you will learn to understand what you achieve once you have answered these questions.
While these questions can be valuable, I encourage you to adapt them to the specific context of your new team or organization to make them even more relevant and effective.
Question 1: What is the vision of this team?
This question focuses on discovering the “why”1 behind your team’s existence. From a psychological perspective, understanding the vision helps you see your work as meaningful and purposeful. It fuels intrinsic motivation, fosters engagement, and inspires you and your team members.
You are asking this question because you want to understand what the long-term goal of your new team is. The answer to this question allows you to contextualize your role and contribution within the bigger picture, giving you a clearer picture of what you can contribute to the bigger picture.
Knowing the vision of the team allows you as a new member to align your focus to contribute constructively to that vision. It provides clear direction and motivation from the start, facilitates rapid integration, and enables you to make meaningful contributions that align with the team’s goals.
Question 2: What do you expect from me?
This question helps define your role within the team. It provides clarity on what is expected of you and how you fit into the bigger picture. It also aligns with the team’s expectations, allowing you to understand and act accordingly. The result is a clear understanding of specific tasks, responsibilities and expectations, which reduces uncertainty and anxiety.
It also enables you to align your performance with expectations and thus optimizes your contribution to the team. Clear roles and expectations increase your self-confidence and the ability to work confidently. Clarity in expectations about your role also promotes effective collaboration.
Question 3: How does this team deliver value?
This question shows your team that you have a desire to make an impact and feel that the work is valuable. The answer to this question also sets the criteria for assessing the performance and value that the team provides. You will learn how the team adds value to the organization and potentially to the broader society, and it will help you understand the KPIs and other success indicators. It will also help you focus on the work that delivers the most value.
Question 4: What are the main challenges?
This question activates your problem-solving and creativity skills. It makes you aware of potential obstacles and prepares you to find solutions to those challenges. It gives you insight into what might stand in the way of achieving your team’s goals and provides a basis for developing strategies to overcome them. It builds resilience because you are prepared for challenges and are not caught off guard by unexpected ones. It also shows that you are willing to commit to the team’s success, which builds trust within the team.
Question 5: What are the team dynamics like?
Asking about team dynamics helps you recognize the importance of relationships within your team. It quickly teaches you about the unwritten rules, norms, and values that govern team interaction and culture. It also helps you see how to effectively build and maintain relationships both within and outside your team. This helps you make an effective contribution more quickly. Understanding team dynamics promotes harmony and positive relationships, which are crucial for innovation, change, and collaboration.
Finally…
These questions are essential to help you adapt quickly to a new team and make a valuable contribution soon after you start. They highlight both the operational and social aspects of working within a team and ensure you understand the context in which you are working. It helps you align your work with what is most effective and valuable to the team and the wider organisation. This will lead to greater productivity, creativity and collaboration within the team.
Another tip: write down the answers of your new team members and compare them with each other. It also gives you insight into the expectations of your team members. You can always ask them for an explanation if expectations differ from each other to understand it better.
Of course, like every article, I also end this one with a question for you to reflect on:
What steps do you take to ensure that you add value during the first days (and weeks) in a new team?
I hope you enjoyed reading this article again. If you have any feedback or questions, please let me know!
See you next week!
With warm regards,
Mark
- If you've read my previous articles, you know I like to start with the why. Inspired by Start with Why, Simon Sinek ↩︎