4 things your new starters should be doing

2. Gain clarity on your position

Often, employee and manager expectations are not aligned, so it’s important to use the initial period to gain clarity on what’s expected of you.

Kauflin suggests using a combination of big-picture and lower-level questions: “For example, inquire what the team’s goals are for the year and how you can help advance them. Ask what she expects you to get done in a given day or week, and when she wants assignments completed.”

Doing this also, according to DeWall, shows “vulnerability, which often . . . creates a relationship of empathy and partnership versus one of competing".