How does your team actually work?
Understand what the “unspoken” goals are in the office.
Learning how to read team dynamics builds the intuition you’ll need to influence others and get things done. As you move up, you’ll be expected to have “big picture” thinking.
When you’re starting out, you don’t need to have all the answers; you just need to know how to ask the right questions. Instead of trying to be an expert right away, focus on observing how your team actually works. Pay attention to who makes the final decisions, how people share feedback, and what the “unspoken” goals are for your team. Don’t let the fear of looking “uninformed” stop you from asking for clarity; staying silent can lead to unnecessary mistakes later.
Understanding these patterns helps you align your effort with what your manager actually cares about, rather than what you think matters. When you know the real goals behind a project, you can make sure your hits the mark. Resist the urge to overcomplicate tasks just to prove your worth; keep your solutions simple and align them to your team’s immediate needs. This prevents you from wasting time on busy work and ensures your energy goes toward tasks that truly make a difference for the team.
What’s one "unspoken" priority you’ve noticed that wasn’t mentioned during your initial onboarding?
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