Learning the Ropes 101

Most government agencies are conservative, risk-averse, and goal-oriented. Federal agencies have unspoken rules that impact how they do business and interact with their employees. Because these rules are unspoken it can be challenging to follow them — but not impossible. “Learning the Ropes” or the company culture is a mandatory factor in your career success.

The New Kid on the Block

You’ve just been hired or maybe you’ve just transitioned to a new role. You’re feeling on top of the world, and you can’t wait until you’ve got that first paycheck. Then it happens. Paperwork on top of paperwork; constant phone calls. People watching you, questioning or checking behind your work. Some people are friendly. Some are distant and few seem helpful. Not what you are expecting right? So, what’s going on???

What’s going on is that you are a newbie or new kid on the block…a greenhorn.  You have no rights, no say and no credibility or authority. If you are at the low end of the grade structure, it can be really tough. If you are past the career ladder grades, you’ve got a little bit more leverage. But if you are a newbie coming in from the private sector or corporate, you’ve got an uphill battle in learning the culture of your agency. So how can you go about figuring things out?

Steps to Success

Regardless of where you are in the organization, the following steps can make it easier to learn the ropes. 

1. Level Set:  Ask your manager for his/her expectations. Double check that you are on the right track by scheduling a time to have a follow-up. 
2. Introduce yourself: Get to know people, finding out their expertise.
3. Watch, learn and listen.
4. Read operating guidelines (online or in print). You might have to use your internal search systems, but they exist somewhere.  If you find the operating guidelines are obsolete, take the initiative to update them. Of course, let your manager know and make sure he/she as well as others have access.
5. Set up your desk/office/cubicle with the bare necessities especially if you don’t know the organization’s culture yet. (For example, you might desk share or have “loaned” space granted to those who report to the office on an infrequent basis.)
6. Be on time or early. Timeliness goes a long way in gaining credibility and authority.

By no means is this a complete list but it’s enough to get you started. Remember, your survival and success depend on learning the ropes. 

After retiring from the Federal Government, Sandra Hill launched her business – New Horizen Coaching & Professional Growth Advancement. She has a passion for coaching (life, business, and career), helping those who seek to build their confidence while facilitating transitions in their personal or professional life. Sandra is a best-selling author, podcast host and writes career coaching articles for Forbes and other industry magazines.

Fulfilling her personal mantra, “Each one Reach one”, Sandra also volunteers with several non-profits and serves as a mentor and partner with local schools. 

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