More Answers... (10/12/25 Newsletter): That Goodwill Feeling...
The "More Answers..."Newsletter
That Goodwill Feeling... (we can all use a bit of that...)
Hi Everyone,
Here's your Sunday Evening "More Answers..." to help you head into the work week-- remember, you can see previous newsletters at https://www.askchrista.com/blog/, and all topics are related to the many advising and messaging exchanges I've had each week!
Tonight’s topic? Establishing goodwill in the workplace — especially in your first two months.
Goodwill, Great Energy, Lasting Impressions...
Goodwill is great energy extended to others, usually in the form of kindness, thoughtfulness, and deep consideration. It’s one of the easiest ways to connect with people, and one of the fastest ways to offer a positive impact.
The first several weeks of a new role are typically stressful, and it's easy to forget about (or even turn-off the care for) extending goodwill to others.
BUT! This is the time when simple and easy acts of genuine goodwill can make such a great impression, that it sets the tone not just to alleviate early job stress, but also to extend the better parts of ourselves at a time when others are paying the closest attention.
Research shows that early relationship-building and trust formation directly predict engagement, cooperation, and job performance (Graen & Uhl-Bien, 1995). When you establish goodwill early, you make it easier for others to learn about who you are as a good human AND the value you bring.
It Also Enhances Credibility(who wouldda thought?)...
Harvard researcher Amy Cuddy (2015) found that people tend to assess two traits in others the fastest: competence and warmth. Those who demonstrate both are perceived as trustworthy and capable.
It makes sense, right? Competence means you know what you're doing, but warmth invites others to learn about you beyond what you know, how well you know it, and how capable you are of your job.
And so, as you start a new role or even start in a new team, there are a few things you can consider above all else:
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Show curiosity before certainty-- especially if you're in the same company but a different role or a different team. Ask questions that signal genuine interest in how things work. Ted Lasso said it best when he quoted Walt Whitman and said, "Be Curious, Not Judgmental." [explicit language warning]
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Deliver small, reliable wins. The reliability matters more than anything (and small deliverables offer a faster learn about how reliable you are!).
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Appreciate others, and be specific about it. Here's where the warmth matters. Take the time to see what others are doing. Pay attention to the smaller items that make the difference. Then let them know you're paying attention. "Making others feel seen" is one of the most powerful ways we can impact fellow good humans.
These acts not only create goodwill within you, but also starts a network of energy that will bring YOU goodwill when you're in need also (Baker, 2000).
Goodwill Practice
(like every skill, it actually takes practice!!!)
Here are some of the fastest and quickest ways to get that goodwill going:
- Listen More Than You Speak. Early on, your credibility comes from learning. Listening shows respect for institutional memory and the people who hold it. Actively learning demonstrates your openness, too.
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Honor What Came Before You. Even if you spot inefficiencies, acknowledge the effort behind them. “I can see how this worked well before…” goes a long way for all of us, right? Sit in the history before you, and let those around you see you in their history.
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Be Generous with Credit. Recognize others publicly and privately. People remember who sees them (really sees them). Doing this uplifts good humans, also, and we ALL should endeavor to do more of that.
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Follow Through, Every Time. Reliability breeds safety and trust and all kinds of goodwill feelings. Few things build goodwill faster than doing what you said you’d do (over and over again).
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"Mind Your Microinteractions." A smile, quick acknowledgment, or a moment of empathy reinforces psychological safety (Edmondson, 2019). (y'all know how much I looooove Amy Edmondson's work!!)
There's no easier or faster way to create a warm, strong, open, and ready-for-action foundation than practicing goodwill each day.
(oh! it feels really good, too...)
SOME WATCH OUTS!!
Even with good intent, new hires can unintentionally drain goodwill. Watch for these early missteps:
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Over-promising. Better to under-promise and over-deliver than the reverse. We all know that, I'm just sayin'...
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Over-comparing. Limit the “At my last job, we…” phrase. It can sound dismissive of the current culture or overbearing. At the same time, sharing is a good thing-- this is more about the strength of how you relate, so just watch out.
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Over-aligning too soon. Observe group norms before jumping in. Normative behavior is natural. "Normative." Genuine goodwill grows from authenticity, not mimicry.
BOOSTER FOR YOUR WEEK!!!
Succeeding in a New Job (Good Will is Just a Part of It)!!
This week's media is from TED's The Way We Work series, and it's a great way to transition out of Ask Christa's Season, focused on listener questions related to Doing the Work, and into Season 5, focused on listener questions related to Career Growth.
The packaged "3 Cs" in this video might feel a bit eye-rolly (oh my goodness, can we have ANY kind of advice without it being a catchy acronym or listing of same-letter words???), but the compatibility C is deep, relevant, and relatable. Gorick Ng has championed various tools and techniques to help others achieve higher career success, and he comes at it from the perspective of a first-gen college grad who helped his mom with her resume when he was just 14. His heart is in his work, and he clearly wants others to succeed.
I love that.
At just 5.5 minutes, it's also an easy view and listen for a few pearls that I believe will strengthen quite a few of you right now.
Enjoy!
And remember, if you have a business challenge or workplace issue... Ask Christa!
REFERENCES
Baker, W. (2000). Achieving success through social capital: Tapping the hidden resources in your personal and business networks. Jossey-Bass.
Cuddy, A. J. C. (2015). Presence: Bringing your boldest self to your biggest challenges. Little, Brown and Company.
Edmondson, A. C. (2019). The fearless organization: Creating psychological safety in the workplace for learning, innovation, and growth. Wiley.
Graen, G. B., & Uhl-Bien, M. (1995). Relationship-based approach to leadership: Development of leader–member exchange (LMX) theory of leadership over 25 years: Applying a multi-level multi-domain perspective. The Leadership Quarterly, 6(2), 219–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/1048-9843(95)90036-5
NOTE: I have access to various books and resources because of my DrBA credential; however, I want all of you to know where you can find what I review for my newsletter. Below is a list of books referenced above. You can ask your local library to borrow them from their network or if you care to purchase, please consider Bookstore.org:
For Baker's Achieving success through social capital: Tapping the hidden resources in your personal and business networks: https://bookshop.org/p/books/achieving-success-through-socia...
For Cuddy's Presence: Bringing your boldest self to your biggest challenges: https://bookshop.org/p/books/presence-bringing-your-boldest-...
For Edmondson's The fearless organization: Creating psychological safety in the workplace for learning, innovation, and growth: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-fearless-organization-creat...
