When you’re joining any new tribe - family, community, job, friend group, whatever - you must answer this important question first: How do the people like us act? What are the unspoken rules that people like us observe?
Consider a new job.
The people at that job have a mode of operating, a way of acting, a credo, a culture, a this is how we do things around here. Every person has a part to play, and they play it. For the new employee, their biggest and most important question to answer is, How do I play my part here?
If that new employee doesn’t play that part, they’ll be shunned and ultimately fired.
If they play the part too well, the group will become untrusting.
If the new person plays their part just well enough, they’ll be welcomed with open arms.
Learn the rules - learn the culture.
Play your part - just well enough.
