I have been denied orientation, guidance

Alice Nankya L. Nsibuka

I am six months into my new job but I have never been given any induction. I have to keep asking about everything! I am frustrated by the lack of orientation. When I ask about it, I am told to ‘just go with the flow’. What do I do? Is it too much to ask for orientation? Rogers

Dear Rogers,
Induction gives new employees an objective view of the company, organizational culture, and work ethic, which enables them to quickly integrate into the workplace. It is unfortunate that you did not get inducted however this should not stop you from surviving and thriving in this new position.

Review the job description and identify the main responsibilities, key performance indicators, the role objectives and how they fit with the team and organizational goals. You should also identify the critical success factors for the role i.e. what must you do well to be successful? Raise any concerns with your supervisor and be honest about your ability to meet key goals or objectives.
Carry out a personal SWOT analysis to identify skills and knowledge gaps for this role.

Let your supervisor know if you have any gaps that you can’t quickly address and don’t be afraid to ask for help or extra resources. Organizations often have policies that govern skilling / learning for new recruits, find out if you can benefit from this.

Take time and observe how your coworkers approach work and creatively adopt the same processes and practices. You could also Identify one or two of your colleagues who you can approach for support and tap into their knowledge and experience. Try to find a mentor to guide you through this transition. Mentors can be an invaluable sources of learning and feedback, especially if they have gone through this experience before, or have held a role similar to yours.

Alice Nankya L. Nsibuka
HR business partner
NMG - Uganda
[email protected]