Familiarize yourself with the 30/60/90 rule: The first month of a new hire's 90-day probation period should focus on familiarizing themselves with the team, company, products/services, clients, etc. Month two should be spent studying current processes and procedures, and identifying strengths and weaknesses. In the last month, that hire should be well-grounded in the role and capable of identifying growth opportunities. Past the 90-day mark is considered an acceptable time to implement innovation.

"I'd remain humble, and do what I could to build relationships, looking at everyone as a resource for knowledge while I learn the ropes. I'd work hard, side by side with everyone while keeping my head down. I'd learn everything I could, working smarter as I went on, learning all the tricks of the trade from my fellow team members along the way. Once I earned their respect and learned the protocols, systems, and rules, I'd develop systems of my own, seeking to improve on what is in place and contribute in any way I could. Kaizen is the ultimate end goal."