How to Thrive in a Workplace Where You Feel Like You Don’t Fit In

Have you started a new job and found it difficult to get along with your coworkers? Perhaps a new manager introduced a culture shift that you object to. Or do you struggle with social anxiety that makes it difficult for you to bond with your coworkers?

A recent survey found that 25% of workers don’t fit in at work, proving that not everyone does. Although you have no influence over how other people perceive you, on the plus side, you do have power over your own. You may have nerves, and worry, or you may be doing something that you aren’t yet aware of when you feel like you stand out like a sore thumb.

But don’t worry this article will discuss how to handle situations where you feel like you don’t fit in at work. So read on “how to thrive in a workplace where you feel like you don’t fit in.

What’s the Importance of Fitting in at Work 

It’s important to fit in at work for a number of reasons, including:

Better Performance: When you feel like you belong somewhere, your energy and enthusiasm for your work will increase, which will result in higher levels of performance.

Greater Teamwork: If you fit in with your organization, you can work as a team more successfully. Teams that consist of coworkers with similar experiences and interests are ultimately more productive and cohesive.

More Creativity: When you communicate with your team more successfully, you are more likely to be creative and innovative at work and within your department.

Greater Opportunities for Development: If you fit in at work, you’ll have a lot of options for progress as long as you do a good job of integrating into the workplace culture and building strong working relationships. Furthermore, given that you might feel more content in your job overall, you’re more likely to be in the company for a longer time.

What to Do When You Feel Like You Don’t Fit in at Work

If you find yourself stating, “I don’t fit in at work,” here are some suggestions you might want to take into account.

Evaluate Whether a Genuine Issue Exists

If you are battling uncertainties and fears, it’s likely that you fit in at work but are just concentrating on the statistics to support your feelings. To put it another way, you might be ignoring the proof that you actually fit in at work.

To decide if you are a good fit at work, you should study the situation objectively and consider whether you truly fit in. If, after examining the facts objectively, you find that there is a disconnect between you and your coworkers and that it is harming your ability to perform your job effectively, it is critical to take additional steps to improve your ability to fit in.

Find Out What’s Working

Even though it would seem natural to focus the majority of your attention on the relationships that aren’t working out, it’s often more advantageous to focus your efforts on what is working out. By focusing on the relationships that are succeeding and determining what you need to keep doing consistently, you can usually strengthen those connections even more. This might improve your feeling of complete belonging. It could help you decide if the corporate culture is a good long-term fit for you.

Alter Your Communication Style

There may be times when you need to adjust your communication style to fit in better at work. In a more collaborative office, for instance, your communication style may be offensive if your previous employer had a more confrontational work environment. You should pay attention to how your manager interacts with the other members of your team in order to properly alter your own communication style. Then you should adopt this communication strategy.

Seek Individual Connections 

Since it could be challenging to forge meaningful ties with your employees in a group situation, you should start by developing interactions with individuals one-on-one. Consider suggesting a coffee date after work or inviting a coworker to lunch to build rapport and strengthen personal relationships.

Look for Chances to Engage with Colleagues

Companies frequently provide social gatherings or offer other chances for social interaction, whether it be in the break room during lunch or near the coffee maker in the morning. Seek out opportunities to talk to your coworkers. Whenever someone walks by your desk in the morning, be sure to say “good morning” and engage in light conversation. The same goes for when you run into coworkers in the break room. These casual encounters can help you get to know your coworkers better, fostering greater levels of respect and trust as well as a more encouraging work atmosphere.

Look for Chances to Add Value

Another tactic to build solid working relationships and fit in better at work is to offer to help others and contribute value wherever you can. Look for opportunities to utilize your skills and further the goals of others. You can develop strong bonds with your employees by displaying your personal importance in this way.

Think About Leaving

If you feel that you have done all possible to fit in at work, think about whether it is time to look for a new position elsewhere. If you would have to sacrifice your basic values or become someone you are not in order to fit in, you might want to think about looking for work somewhere else. If you’ve been at your job for more than a year and are experiencing workplace stress brought on by not fitting in, it may be time to look for a new position with a corporate culture that better suits your personality.

Also Read: Microaggressions in the Workplace: How to Recognize and Respond to Them