Whether welcomed or not, corporate mergers are here to stay. In a period where roles and employees’ value to a company are scrutinised, adapting to a newly- -formed corporate culture can ensure your success in a new workplace.

Corporate culture affects how you do your job and interact with colleagues. The number of hours worked, the work environment, how employees interact with one another, competitiveness among employees, office space, training and skills development, and on-site perks, such as break rooms, gyms and day-care facilities all play a part in the employee’s approach to work.

But for something so important, a company’s culture can often be misunderstood or misread and just like different cultures around the world, workplace cultures differ from one another. A clear way to ease the stress of entering an unfamiliar work setting is to closely scrutinise the workplace culture and if necessary, change your habits accordingly. Even though you deliver the same quality of work, behaving in the same way as your previous job can possibly lead your co-workers and managers to perceive that you are inflexible to change and therefore not suitable to the new organisation.

If a merger has placed you in a new or unfamiliar position, it is important to take a step back and gain a clear understanding of your new setting. Entering the new company with a strategy will solidify your position and allow you to do your job with confidence.

Generally with a merger, one company’s culture is more dominant than the other. Identify if the merger means a new strategic direction and will it require different skill sets and an altered way to approach your job.

Learn how information is exchanged and adopt the same methods in your own approach. Each company communicates in different ways. For example, one company may have a stronger emphasis on face-to-face or are heavy e-mailers. If you are unsure, schedule meetings with key stakeholders to get an understanding of each other’s working habits and preferences.

Companies can also differ in the level of social interaction amongst co-workers, both during and after office-hours. The grapevine and rumour mills may also run on overdrive, so it is advisable to be discrete until you gauge the level of openness among colleagues before you confide your opinions, especially if they relate to how the new company is progressing.

Get to know those you work with. While to hold non-work-related conversations with colleagues may not be your preferred work style, understanding what drives and motivates your co-workers can help you effectively do your job. Showing a personal interest in their lives can break down barriers and any potential ‘road blocks’ in completing your work in the future.

Leaders, like everyone, have individual styles and it is important to know how to work within these approaches so you can get your work done effectively and efficiently. Within any business, there will be varying degrees of management but there are only a few key decision-makers. Identify who they are and devise a strategy for getting visibility in front of them. Look for obvious gaps in the leadership or middle management team as there may be possible opportunities for promotion.