How To Lead Those Who’ve Just Entered The Corporate World
Leaders and managers are often challenged when dealing with those who’ve just entered the corporate world. I work with CEOs who lead various sizes of businesses, and many of them have reported such struggles. One of the challenges I hear about often is how to help these new workers learn how to integrate successfully into the corporate culture.
This integration can especially be difficult for new employees who may not have learned professional relationship skills yet. Such employees may not immediately understand the social norms of an organization or corporate culture. They don’t always know how to fit in or professionally respond to their co-workers. They might show their inexperience by dressing inappropriately, not handling customers in a correct way or not adhering to traditional behaviors for an office environment.
I’ve coached and mentored many young employees and have a passion for helping these potential future leaders reach peak performance levels. Here are some tips on how to lead them.
1. Model Professional Relationship Skills
Professional relationship skills are often “caught” more than taught, so mentors and modeling can be essential for those just entering the corporate workforce. As a leader, be intentional about how to show your teams how to manage professional relationships well. Model for your employees how to shake hands firmly, how to look people in the eyes when speaking and how to ask questions and show genuine interest in other people. These skills might seem like common sense to some, but those who are new to the corporate environment may need help developing them.
2. Make Corporate Standards Clear
Different companies have different standards, and there seem to be more standards and norms today than at any other time in business. Be clear with your inexperienced employees about standards of behavior, and then reinforce those standards often. Communicate about office rules and how employees are expected to conduct themselves in front of customers. It’s also vital that employees understand that in the business world, there are often dress codes. The appropriate dress in many offices may consist of a dress shirt or blouse, a suit jacket, or a suit or dress, for example. Don’t assume that employees know what you think they should know. Make sure that you tell them, so you know that they know.
3. Create A Process For Improvement
Don’t expect those who are new to the corporate world to improve in a short span of time. When an employee falls below the standard, develop a plan for improvement. Treat errors in professional behavior just as you would any other job performance issues. Develop a 30-, 60- or 90-day improvement plan. Include in this plan both actions and behaviors that should be changed. Also include specific goals that the employee can work to achieve, as well as how they’ll be reprimanded if they don’t succeed in meeting these goals.
4. Meet Individually With Employees And Explain The Why
Many who are new to the corporate environment don’t understand the why behind professional behavior. Meet with such employees one on one to explain why cultural standards and practices are important and how following them can help them succeed in the workplace. For example, if you’re emphasizing the importance of wearing the appropriate clothing, you might explain that it’s important to dress professionally because a sloppy appearance might make the customer lose confidence in the organization’s ability to perform. Also explain that standards are important because they’ve been proven to be effective.
5. Stress The Importance Of Emotional Intelligence
Employees who are new to the corporate world also may need to understand the role that emotional intelligence can play in their professional lives. Explain to them that considering how their behaviors and actions might influence others is a critical skill for success, and that emotional intelligence can help them understand who they’re working with and what values, behaviors or actions are important to them. Business is about consideration, and teaching new employees how to consider others can go a long way toward helping them scale the corporate ladder.
Managing inexperienced employees can be challenging, but it also has the potential to be rewarding. When a leader invests in the lives of those they lead, they can have a lifelong impact on them. When today’s leaders help the next generation of leaders learn how to perform well and connect with others, they not only can help their companies succeed, but they just may give those employees the skills to be successful in every area of their lives.
Originally published at https://www.forbes.com.
