If you don’t fit in at work, you may be left with some unintended consequences associated with just plain feeling like an outsider. Read more. What do you think? What kinds of “not-fitting-in” scenarios do you come up with?
In the end, trying to fit in at a workplace, even the best one, is a waste of time and energy. As long as you do the work that you’re good at and do it well, there is absolutely no reason you should be concerned with being in the company’s friend hierarchy.
Is it not a problem?
Probably not. But if it’s affecting your overall job performance, then it’s a problem, and you need to address it. If it is causing problems, what’s the solution? Here are a few suggestions for you to consider:
- Get to know the boss and other key players.
- Please get to know their strengths and weaknesses.
- What’s their passion?
- Please find out how they get their information and their inspiration and try to learn something from them.
- Learn the importance of getting your hands dirty.
- Do minor carpentry or maintenance work on the company machines.
- Practice your masonry skills. Learn the janitorial duties that you’re not used to.
What to do if you don’t fit in?
Stop caring about how the office’s up and running. A chill attitude will make people want to help you a little bit more. People feel the effects of your inaction more than you’d think. They’ll be hesitant to give you significant assignments if they don’t think you’ll have the energy to complete them.
You should also stop apologizing. If you’re constantly telling people that you feel mistreated, they’ll naturally have less sympathy for you. Sure, many of us think we should have higher status than our coworkers.
But a work environment that can give you preferential treatment because you’re not there every day is no way to maximize your worth.
How to become more popular among your peers?
Have a strategy for becoming more popular in your organization, and execute it consistently. You can do a few things to make yourself more of a social butterfly in your company. First, create a significant contribution to a team project.
There are many things you can do to get your name in the upper tier of project contribution:
- Be able to conceptualize the overall product you’re working on.
- Think about the end user’s point of view and problem statement and how you could build a product that solves those problems for them.
- Be familiar with the team’s project requirements.
- Study the design documents, ask other team members for feedback, and participate in the review process.
- This will show you’re well-versed in the project and give you credit on the team.
The benefits of making friends
Making friends at work can have many benefits, particularly for introverts. First, making friends can help you put yourself out there. Being social is hard for many introverts. By making a few friends at work, you get to be more outgoing.
Many of us don’t make any new friends while we’re in the workforce. So making new friends at work might give you a confidence boost. Of course, you can’t be friends with everyone you work with, but making a few friends might help ease the pressure.
See, for most of us, if we’re feeling socially awkward at work, it cannot be very comfortable. We don’t want to ask anyone out, but we don’t want to be invisible either. So making friends might help give you a way to express your creativity.
Why Fit In?
Well, you might not have a great environment, but there are still some good reasons to fit in: No matter how rude your coworkers might be, they do pay attention to your performance. The best part is that most people do your job well.
This can be something that you value if you find yourself spending a lot of time at your desk or if you have a tough time working alone. If you have the opportunity to do something more rewarding, you’ll be happier at work, and you’ll be more likely to stick around.
Your company might not be the one who pays you, but the one who is supporting your creative work will be the one you’ll remember most. You might even get to do something extraordinary.
The importance of socialization
So what are you going to do in either situation? In the latter case, it’s usually wise to leave. Yes, there are great reasons to stay (e.g., we’re nearing the end of the program or there’s something important about working with us that you need to see through), but if you don’t feel happy there and you think that it’s not for you, then walk away.
Another critical thing to keep in mind here is the impact of socialization on both the well-being of your career and your health. For example, studies have shown that people with no social contact are more prone to depression and high stress levels.
Similarly, negative interactions with coworkers can contribute to greater levels of job stress and have been linked to job performance issues and a reduction in employee productivity.
How to deal with the company’s culture?
There’s only one reason why most folks haven’t quit: They want to be loyal. Most bosses are incredibly dedicated to their employees and need good workers. The company’s culture is unfortunately highly averse to your success.
Sometimes, however, there are options other than getting fired: you can sue the company, or sell to someone else, or seek some other legally sanctioned form of remedy. And if you can do that and escape the culture, you’ll most likely be better off than staying.
What to do if you don’t fit in at work?
Here we have discussed some ways to fit in at work-
Adjust your mindset
By doing this, you’re not trying to be an extraordinary person. People will respect you for being genuine, and you will earn their respect in return. Focus on the good qualities you have, and don’t worry about your reputation.
Focus on how you can use your strengths to help other people. For example, if someone dislikes something about you, find out what it is. Be open to learning and growth and apply what you have learned. Learn to be open-minded and understand that you are not the problem.
As a manager, recognize the power you have. The best people to manage are those who are humble and flexible. When things get chaotic, and you feel like you’re fighting against the tide, remember the big picture.
Focus on the positives
The best way to ease it is to know your strengths and weaknesses and look at the positive things you bring to the team and the company. But, unfortunately, most people are far too self-absorbed to notice what’s around them.
But some people make the mistake of conflating what they’re good at with who they are. It is not the case. Instead, there are some skills you’re just not that good at. So if you want to fit in at work, the key is to focus on what you can bring to the table.
Be who you are, not who you’re not. Be bold. Do the things that will get you noticed and the attention you crave.
Find a mentor
One of the best ways to avoid toxic people is to find a mentor. The best mentor is one who’s successful and willing to help you. Being able to lean on someone who has positively achieved great things can go a long way.
Ignore the haters; nobody likes to be picked on, but some people have a negative sense of humor that you’re bound to run into. So instead of fighting it, learn to ignore these people and move on. While you may lose some friendships, they can never win you a title.
Be aware of politics. One thing that gets people fired at work is whether you’re a liberal or a conservative. If you’re in a management position, it’s probably best to stay neutral on the subject. While it may seem like a straightforward stance, you’d be surprised how political some people get.
The power of introverts
Pick aside. If you can’t adjust to working with this person, it’s best to keep them as far away from your daily tasks as possible. But even if you can get along with this person, you may be dealing with an extraversion bias (even if you’re an introvert).
People with extraversion bias generally like to talk about themselves, as they like to brag about their accomplishments. However, when you first meet a new person, it’s best to keep your interactions minimal.
This is to give the other person time to relax. Of course, it’s possible to be friends with people who have an extraversion bias, but you might end up having to compromise on certain things. For example, say you work for a team, and a teammate has an extraversion bias.
Dress for success
This is a key element that can set you apart. For example, we can all get distracted while working, so it’s helpful to put effort into our appearance. If you have a colleague who dresses well, compliment them.
Your compliment may be met with the words, “I thought you were taller.” Don’t take this personally. Focus on the positive instead and focus on how the positive comment helps you to fit in. Don’t put others down.
It’s common to gravitate to like-minded people, but when that has become your sole focus, you can run the risk of behaving badly. Stay out of the drama. At the end of the day, it’s not worth it. Any negativity that happens will be directed at you.
You’re not responsible for other people’s mistakes. Your responsibility is to yourself. Focus on working for yourself.
Be the first to talk.
We know, at our core, we all like to feel important, respected and listened to. But work is the biggest social networking channel out there and the one where everyone is constantly seeking validation and advice from their colleagues.
If you can’t come to the party, then you have no business going. Be the first to speak up and do your best to get a few laughs.
Make a good impression.
In the office, there are certain things we’re asked to do. Being a good friend, a good colleague, and a good employee all go together, and we must remember that every day. Doing so means being a good listener, showing up early, being on time, and offering genuine, real-time feedback.
Be authentic. It’s a modern, millennial thing to say, but authenticity is the key. Don’t try to be someone you’re not, because everyone knows people in a particular field who all think they know it all. Strive to create a unique, unique approach that reflects the true you and not try to stick to the norm or create a caricature of yourself for the sake of it. People who are themselves get along best and always connect with others.
Find out what you have in common.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being yourself in a group of 20 people. What’s dangerous is remaining unspoken for weeks at a time but not actively engaging with the people you work with daily.
So, get out there. Try a new approach to meeting people in your field and see how it goes. Chances are, you’ll soon find yourself with more connections in your network than you’ve had in ages. Have a background story.
Back in the day, guys had jobs like being lab techs or even bike messengers. In today’s workplace, the common conception is that tech people all know how to code or work with remote teams. While this is more common than ever, there’s always a segment of the population that doesn’t fit the stereotypes.
Conclusion
If you feel you are very much under-represented in your company, maybe you need to sit down with your boss and discuss possible solutions. Sometimes, simply set in your people need to make changes to gain their support.
If you don’t want to conform to the most popular set of beliefs and rules, then stay at your current job. If you do want to participate in the system, try to identify common groups, especially ones that might be common to the job itself, and find a place in those groups that best suits your career goals. Or you could just quit. Who knows, maybe it’ll help you change the system for good.
Frequently asked questions
Question 1.) What to do if you don’t fit in at work?
Answer- It can be hard to fit in at work, especially if you’re a creative type. But don’t worry! There are plenty of ways we have discussed in the article.
Question 2.) How to become more popular among your peers?
Answer- Have a strategy for becoming more popular in your organization, and execute it consistently.
Question 3.) How to make friends at work?
Answer- Make friends at work with these five simple steps:
- Introduce yourself to someone new
- Take a walk in the breakroom.
- Ask about your coworkers’ hobbies and interests.
- Engage in small talk during your coffee break
- Volunteer to help others in the office
