Never eat (or drink) alone ft. GloRilla

“I pour my [girls] shots, because I don’t drink alone.” – GloRilla

And honestly? It's astute workplace advice for me and my peers, especially for the first 6 months of a new role.

When you start a job, your first priority isn’t just learning systems. It’s learning people.

The real onboarding isn’t just in those virtual trainings, it’s also in the hallways. So, my advice? In month 0 to 6, try to avoid having coffee or lunch alone when you're working in the office. Every meal, hallway convo, and Teams Chat is an opportunity to build important relationships.

By month 6, aim to have:
✅ Recurring meetings with at least 4 people across different teams
✅ A go-to peer for unfiltered, honest convos
✅ Someone outside your lane who helps you see the bigger picture

Even though they look like casual meetings on the outside, they’re how you:
– Learn how influence actually works
– Understand the org beyond your job description
– Identify who gets things done (and how)

And if you’re struggling to get on people’s calendars?
If the energy feels cold or connections don’t stick?
It’s not a red flag, but it’s what I call a professional data point.

It doesn’t mean run.
But it does mean watch closely.
Because limited internal access early on is often your first signal that this might not be the place to plant roots.

So pour the hypothetical shots. Make the rounds. Build your bench.
Because, the secret is, connection is your first KPI.