1 00:00:02,519 --> 00:00:06,058 Speaker 1: We're back again for my favorite part in this show. 2 00:00:06,070 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: I ask me anything segment with Gerald. Have you found 3 00:00:09,728 --> 00:00:12,799 Speaker 1: this helpful so far? I'm sure you have your own questions. 4 00:00:12,810 --> 00:00:15,819 Speaker 1: So do remember to send it to us. You can 5 00:00:15,829 --> 00:00:18,190 Speaker 1: find Gerald and I on linkedin or drop us a 6 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:22,180 Speaker 1: note at CN A podcasts at mediacorp.com dot SG. 7 00:00:22,420 --> 00:00:24,129 Speaker 2: And I'll try my best to help you. You know, 8 00:00:24,139 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 2: I love the questions we have so far and I 9 00:00:26,049 --> 00:00:28,530 Speaker 2: really hope that you find the advice given helpful. So 10 00:00:28,540 --> 00:00:30,350 Speaker 2: do let us know if you have tried out any 11 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:31,329 Speaker 2: of our tips as well. 12 00:00:31,350 --> 00:00:34,229 Speaker 1: Yes, please let us know. Now, Gerald, today's question was 13 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 1: sent to our producer. This person prefers to remain anonymous, 14 00:00:37,610 --> 00:00:40,778 Speaker 1: but I'll read her question. The question is the person 15 00:00:40,790 --> 00:00:43,958 Speaker 1: I replaced, didn't do a proper introduction to my team 16 00:00:43,970 --> 00:00:46,619 Speaker 1: during my first week. As a result, I had to 17 00:00:46,630 --> 00:00:48,990 Speaker 1: pin down a one on one meeting on my own. 18 00:00:49,290 --> 00:00:52,270 Speaker 1: They were not very responsive, making me question what they 19 00:00:52,279 --> 00:00:56,270 Speaker 1: were told before my arrival as a newcomer to the company. 20 00:00:56,279 --> 00:00:59,229 Speaker 1: How should I handle this? And what is the right 21 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:03,220 Speaker 1: proper professional, even classy? Way to do a handover to 22 00:01:03,229 --> 00:01:04,470 Speaker 1: someone's replacement. 23 00:01:04,940 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. You know, Tiffany is really difficult for this person 24 00:01:07,370 --> 00:01:10,250 Speaker 2: because when we enter a new job, it's like a 25 00:01:10,260 --> 00:01:14,069 Speaker 2: new environment. We don't know everything about the company. Even 26 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,199 Speaker 2: though we sign on the dotted line for the employment contract. 27 00:01:16,209 --> 00:01:21,349 Speaker 2: It's like we are not sure the dynamics, the responsibilities, culture, 28 00:01:21,449 --> 00:01:24,129 Speaker 2: the culture, the politics. So it's a whole new environment 29 00:01:24,139 --> 00:01:26,980 Speaker 2: and not knowing what's going on and maybe not even 30 00:01:26,989 --> 00:01:27,949 Speaker 2: feeling welcome 31 00:01:28,209 --> 00:01:31,059 Speaker 2: because there's no handover. It makes it really, really difficult 32 00:01:31,069 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 2: for the person to 33 00:01:32,010 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: adapt. I think there are some people who before they leave, 34 00:01:35,089 --> 00:01:37,139 Speaker 1: they are very willing to write down a big folder 35 00:01:37,150 --> 00:01:41,180 Speaker 1: of instructions, tips things to note for the role. But 36 00:01:41,190 --> 00:01:44,018 Speaker 1: there are those who may, if I can really put 37 00:01:44,029 --> 00:01:47,519 Speaker 1: it bluntly mentally checked out right ord mode and they 38 00:01:47,529 --> 00:01:50,339 Speaker 1: can't be bothered to do a proper handover for all 39 00:01:50,349 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: kinds of reasons. 40 00:01:51,599 --> 00:01:54,660 Speaker 1: So, is there a correct way to hand over to 41 00:01:54,669 --> 00:01:57,690 Speaker 1: your replacement? And if I am at the receiving end 42 00:01:57,699 --> 00:02:00,540 Speaker 1: of an improper handover, what should I 43 00:02:00,550 --> 00:02:03,989 Speaker 2: do? So if you are a supervisor and you have 44 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,220 Speaker 2: a team and you're receiving a new hire, be present 45 00:02:06,230 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 2: on the new hires first few days and also assigning 46 00:02:09,008 --> 00:02:10,139 Speaker 2: someone to stand in. 47 00:02:10,500 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 2: If today you are not available on that day because 48 00:02:12,889 --> 00:02:15,380 Speaker 2: I think the first couple of days is the most scary. 49 00:02:15,490 --> 00:02:17,330 Speaker 2: You don't know where the toilet is sometimes I was 50 00:02:17,380 --> 00:02:20,309 Speaker 2: gonna say, where's the toilet? You know, where do you 51 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,269 Speaker 2: get your water from? So, just making sure that the person, 52 00:02:23,279 --> 00:02:25,788 Speaker 2: the new hire is comfortable, I think that's the most 53 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 2: important thing. 54 00:02:26,750 --> 00:02:29,550 Speaker 2: And then of course, having that meeting to sit down 55 00:02:29,559 --> 00:02:33,630 Speaker 2: with the new hire to communicate across what expectations, even 56 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,509 Speaker 2: maybe talk about personal work styles and the work culture, 57 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,509 Speaker 2: how things are like ironed out or rather elaborate on 58 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:42,119 Speaker 2: what the work priorities for the person. Because sometimes you've 59 00:02:42,130 --> 00:02:44,490 Speaker 2: got like a whole list of projects to do. Don't 60 00:02:44,500 --> 00:02:47,198 Speaker 2: overwhelm the new hire start with what the key priorities 61 00:02:47,210 --> 00:02:51,050 Speaker 2: to focus on. And also perhaps have that regular check 62 00:02:51,059 --> 00:02:54,020 Speaker 2: ins maybe once every week for the first couple of months, 63 00:02:54,029 --> 00:02:55,589 Speaker 2: at least just to make sure that the person is 64 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:56,448 Speaker 2: adapting well, 65 00:02:56,860 --> 00:03:00,579 Speaker 2: some companies, they have workplace buddies, mentors. Yes, I had one. Yeah. 66 00:03:00,589 --> 00:03:02,589 Speaker 2: And it's not a supervisor. It's like somebody else to 67 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,789 Speaker 2: take you around to the nice food places. 68 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,139 Speaker 1: She literally told me that I will tell you which 69 00:03:07,149 --> 00:03:10,008 Speaker 1: is the nice toilet, which I found very helpful. 70 00:03:10,190 --> 00:03:13,038 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, because this is all about the integration experience. 71 00:03:13,210 --> 00:03:15,918 Speaker 2: There's nothing more scary than just going in there and 72 00:03:15,929 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 2: then feeling like you have to take an exam on 73 00:03:17,809 --> 00:03:20,079 Speaker 2: the first day of your work and just to perform 74 00:03:20,089 --> 00:03:22,039 Speaker 2: and then not knowing how people view you. 75 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,059 Speaker 2: So I think really the team overall can be more 76 00:03:25,070 --> 00:03:29,529 Speaker 2: intentional in helping new hires integrate having lunches together on 77 00:03:29,538 --> 00:03:32,339 Speaker 2: the first week, making sure that they maybe you have 78 00:03:32,350 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 2: a department lunch to welcome newcomers. All these will kind 79 00:03:35,169 --> 00:03:36,270 Speaker 2: of add to that. So 80 00:03:36,279 --> 00:03:38,229 Speaker 1: going back to this person who wrote to us, it 81 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:42,529 Speaker 1: sounds like this person is also saying that the team 82 00:03:42,539 --> 00:03:45,139 Speaker 1: wasn't very receptive towards her. 83 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,610 Speaker 1: So what should you do if you feel that you 84 00:03:48,619 --> 00:03:54,419 Speaker 1: are on the receiving end of maybe a more hostile introduction? 85 00:03:54,550 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. Personally I've been through that experience before. Yeah. And, 86 00:03:57,889 --> 00:04:00,820 Speaker 2: and I resonate a lot with that question, what 87 00:04:00,899 --> 00:04:02,940 Speaker 2: needed to do was to first be very objective about 88 00:04:02,949 --> 00:04:05,220 Speaker 2: what's happening on the first day. We expect to see 89 00:04:05,229 --> 00:04:09,289 Speaker 2: smiles handshakes, right? And the meetings, right? But it's not 90 00:04:09,300 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 2: like that all the time, especially if you are joining 91 00:04:11,970 --> 00:04:14,410 Speaker 2: a company with high attrition or maybe the person that's 92 00:04:14,419 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 2: supposed to hand over to you is no longer there. 93 00:04:16,700 --> 00:04:19,989 Speaker 2: So you go into this maybe fast paced workplace where 94 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,250 Speaker 2: nobody has time for you, right? And it makes you 95 00:04:22,260 --> 00:04:24,529 Speaker 2: start to feel like you are the problem. I think 96 00:04:24,540 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 2: you have to really be very objective about what's happening here. 97 00:04:27,010 --> 00:04:29,678 Speaker 2: Is it because of you or is it because of 98 00:04:29,690 --> 00:04:33,099 Speaker 2: the prevailing work culture or what's happening with them? Maybe 99 00:04:33,109 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 2: they are unhappy about other things and you just, 100 00:04:35,790 --> 00:04:37,529 Speaker 2: just because they don't smile at you doesn't mean that 101 00:04:37,540 --> 00:04:39,850 Speaker 2: they don't accept you. So I think that's 11 area 102 00:04:39,859 --> 00:04:43,308 Speaker 2: to really think about and be objective and then start 103 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,410 Speaker 2: working your way slowly upwards to gain the support of 104 00:04:45,420 --> 00:04:47,809 Speaker 2: other people. If today on the first day, nobody is 105 00:04:47,820 --> 00:04:49,808 Speaker 2: giving you the handover, nobody is telling what to do. 106 00:04:49,820 --> 00:04:51,529 Speaker 2: You are just left to your table with your laptop. 107 00:04:51,559 --> 00:04:54,010 Speaker 2: I think start by talking to people around. 108 00:04:54,244 --> 00:04:57,035 Speaker 2: That's why I did when I didn't know who to 109 00:04:57,045 --> 00:04:59,344 Speaker 2: ask for, for information, start to talk to the people 110 00:04:59,545 --> 00:05:02,154 Speaker 2: in front beside behind you get to know their names 111 00:05:02,295 --> 00:05:03,505 Speaker 2: because those are the people who are kind of going 112 00:05:03,515 --> 00:05:05,464 Speaker 2: to look out for you a little bit. They could 113 00:05:05,475 --> 00:05:07,053 Speaker 2: be your team or they could be in another team. 114 00:05:07,065 --> 00:05:08,803 Speaker 2: It's very likely that they will be your first day 115 00:05:08,815 --> 00:05:11,575 Speaker 2: or first week, lunch buddies as well, right? So get 116 00:05:11,584 --> 00:05:15,024 Speaker 2: to know them, start to build relationships first. Maybe not 117 00:05:15,035 --> 00:05:17,035 Speaker 2: worry too much about the work, right? 118 00:05:17,260 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 2: I think building your connections within the team is really important. 119 00:05:20,049 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 2: So see this as a start of you spreading your 120 00:05:22,850 --> 00:05:26,149 Speaker 2: workplace influence with the people around you. Yeah. 121 00:05:26,230 --> 00:05:28,239 Speaker 1: Yeah. Very good tip. I mean, at the end of 122 00:05:28,250 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: the day, you are starting on a clean slate. Nobody 123 00:05:30,769 --> 00:05:32,988 Speaker 1: knows you. So this is a good time to start 124 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:37,549 Speaker 1: building allies and friendships and you never know where these 125 00:05:37,559 --> 00:05:38,799 Speaker 1: relationships take you. 126 00:05:39,079 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 1: Well, we hope you found this conversation helpful to you 127 00:05:42,089 --> 00:05:44,820 Speaker 1: to you who sent us this question? Let us know 128 00:05:44,829 --> 00:05:47,230 Speaker 1: if you have tried some of our tips. Remember to 129 00:05:47,238 --> 00:05:49,489 Speaker 1: give us any feedback as well. Again, we're on our 130 00:05:49,500 --> 00:05:52,029 Speaker 1: usual CN a social channels or you can leave a 131 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,980 Speaker 1: comment on Spotify. We're reading all of them, trust me 132 00:05:55,325 --> 00:05:57,954 Speaker 1: and don't forget to send us your Bernie questions for 133 00:05:57,964 --> 00:06:00,994 Speaker 1: Gerald and I'll help you ask them the team behind 134 00:06:01,005 --> 00:06:05,195 Speaker 1: the work it podcast is Christina Robert, Joan Chan, Jaini, Johari, 135 00:06:05,214 --> 00:06:08,125 Speaker 1: Saya Wind and Rosti put, this is Tiffany and 136 00:06:08,135 --> 00:06:10,915 Speaker 2: I'm Gerald. Wishing you a good work week ahead.