PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP IN ACTION: WHO IS GOING TO BREAK?

There were unwritten cultural norms on board the vessel where crew would size up the ‘newbies’ and see if they would last or would they break on their first trip. This wasn’t a negative aspect it was more about sizing up the new recruits to see if they would become part of the team for more than just one trip. I suspect there were a few conversations about the newbies as the rest of the crew observed how we were coping in our new work environment.

Like many organizations there are ways of being and behaving that aren’t always explicit, often they are just underneath the surface. 

It takes time for us to fit in and feel like part of the crew. How often do we under estimate the time this takes? Have there been any cultural norms in the places you have worked that weren’t always obvious at the beginning?