Connecting You to your Team
This resource is designed to help you build, strengthen, and improve your relationships within your team, and can also be leveraged to network with colleagues across the organization.
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Your Story
Developing your Story
How you present yourself becomes your personal brand so it’s worthwhile to create a powerful “story” or introduction about your background and experiences (who you are) and where you’re going (what your career goals are).
Why develop a Story?
For someone who doesn’t yet know you or is not familiar with your talents, a story helps new colleagues:
• Understand how you operate and communicate.
• Understand your skills, experiences, and what you have to offer.
• Understand your career interests in relation to your context and experience.
Creating your Story
Identify what you want to articulate about your background and interests when introducing yourself to your team. Ask yourself:
• What are my strongest skills?
• What are my professional passions?
• What are some of my key work experiences?
• How would I describe my personal attributes?
• What are my educational and/or professional background highlights?
• What are my career goals?
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Connecting with your Team
Schedule Conversations
Scheduling time to connect with your team can lead to meaningful conversations that allow you to connect with your team, learn about someone else’s position in the organization, and experiences. You many also learn insights from their role and vantage point within an organization.
What do you want to learn?
To prepare for an introductory conversation with someone on your team, it’s important to know what you want to learn from the time spent.
• How does the person’s job function and priorities differ from yours?
• Note areas of overlap and areas of difference that could lead to collaboration opportunities.
• Carefully consider function, level, experience, knowledge, and skills.
Connecting with your Team (cont.)
Preparing Questions
An effective conversation consists of questions prepared in advance, focused on learning more about the team member, their role, the organization, and how to best connect with the colleague. The table below provides starter prompts to plan your conversation.
Function
• What do you like most/least about being a […]?
• Who are your primary stakeholders?
• Which teams and departments do you interact with most frequently?
• What resources are available to be successful in your job?
Team/Org
• How does your work support the overall organizational, institutional or functional strategy?
• How would you describe your department and institution’s culture?
• What colleague characteristics are appreciated and rewarded?
• What skill(s) is/are most important in your department/institution?
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5 Tips to Help You Connect
Come Prepared
Research the team to better understand the team culture and dynamics. Review the organizational chart to understand the hierarchy and reporting structure. This will help connect the dots about the team’s structure and the relationships among the team.
Set an example
Small actions can go a long way to establishing a positive working relationship. Ensure your actions speak louder than words.
• Arrive on time.
• Actively listen and engage in the conversation.
• Be courteous and polite.
• Ask engaging questions.
• Have an optimistic and enthusiastic attitude.
Help them get to know you
Discuss what motivates you and drives you. By offering more than what is on your resume, your team will get a window into “the real you”, and you'll plant seeds of trust.
Plan questions ahead of time
The bulk of your time should be dedicated to discovery. Come prepared with questions that uncover how the colleague operates, what successes they’ve had or obstacles they are facing, and how they interact with the greater team.
Close strong
A strong end to the meeting helps reiterate why you are excited to be joining the team. Close your introductory meetings by showing humility. Make it clear you’re in learning mode and would appreciate any support the colleague can provide as you get up to speed. Showing humility builds trust with colleagues.
