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.