The Hidden Code how to Fit in and Succeed in Todays Organizations
Finding yourself in a new position or in a new job can be quite uncomfortable. Feeling like you don't fit in can be stressful. Most of us have felt that way at one time or another. It is doubtful that there is some hidden secret that causes one to fit in or brings one to success in any particular organization. In any new position the question, "What do I do next?" seems to creep in. The goal, and plan is to move in the direction of success within the organization. There are no secret codes, however there may be some important information that we are not currently aware of.
There may be some stereotypical factors that play a role in becoming a success unless the company is true to it's employees. All of these seem to be related in some way to the perceptions of others. Your size, your age, how you dress, and even the car you drive is said to play a small role in how well you succeed. It is true that some organizations tend to look for these particular characteristics when hiring. If these were the only determining factors, it would mean that one's success is determined by others rather oneself. There are times when others may stop or delay success, but even that can be overcome by one's personal efforts. Fitting in and obtaining success are mostly the result of your personal efforts.
If you dont know how to succeed, it does not mean you have to find the secret code. It means that you have some adjustments to make in how you make decisions, how you meet and greet people, or even your level of enthusiasm. You may find that you need to experiment a little to see how the organization responds to your performance and personality. think out of the box.
In many positions you will be learning the ropes for as long as you are there. When you stop learning, progress may also stop. If you continue to pay attention and learn how those around you work, how they relate to each other, what the work ethic of the company is, and in general what is expected of you, you will continue to make progress and see successes. This is the place where you need to try to fit in. This is the norm for the company. Fitting in should be relatively easy here. However, a truly successful person is one who, rather than fitting in, causes people around him to want to fit in with him.
It is far more than conforming to organizational norms and expectations as mentioned above that brings success. Who defines success? Following the rules, having a good work ethic and getting along with coworkers are the norm, and there is nothing wrong with that, it is expected. However It is more about you having a plan, a set of goals, and a determination to be what you have defined as success than conforming.
Many years ago, as a young professional, I was sent to a training seminar that changed my whole outlook on being successful. I learned that being successful has two very clear perspectives. You can be successful in the eyes of the people around you. That success is usually defined by them. You can also be successful in your own eyes. This success is defined by you. Successful people are usually the result of a combination of the two. The part that we can control is where our focus needs to be most of the time. Fitting in may be a factor, but not the major one as I see it.
Because we all have different personalities, we learn and perform in different ways. Some are extraverts, and some are introverts. Some people think with their minds and some with their hearts. Some people are well organized and some are not. I have a performance personality. I am a feeler, I choose with my heart more than with my brain sometimes. How I succeed will be different in many ways from how a person with an intuitive personality will succeed. However, it will eventually all come down to how well you do whatever the task is.
In the training mentioned above about being a successful manager, the part that has remained in my mind is about how to do whatever you do with a design to get a "Wow!" response from everyone who sees it. That includes doing your best, and taking a few extra steps along the way. It also includes adding creativity and experiment to your tasks, being willing to take a risk from time to time. Because I am a performance personality, this was right down my alley.
Success is more the product of who you are than a secret behavior or code, or even the desire to fit in. A truly successful person will be a person who others will want to fit in with rather than one who fits in with the organization. Of course that is not always the case, but it leaves room for success to be something you accomplish rather than something dependent upon someone or some organization.
