Apart from the actual work you do, fitting in at your workplace is one of the most important things to think about . A strong team, joined together not just by their presence in an office or factory but by shared interests and social experiences, makes for a very effective unit.

Do you just sit at your desk and ignore everyone? For an employee, a workplace where you fit in with your colleagues feels like a completely different place to one where you don't. Being a part of a group gives you more energy and enthusiasm and inspires creativity, as well as providing access to a ready-made social network. If you don't fit in at your workplace, you're unlikely to be very happy or to stay there very long.

The first step to fitting in is to get a sense of the culture of your workplace. Every organisation has its own culture, which shows itself in the dress code, the look and layout of the place, the level of formality and the way staff interact with each other. Getting a clear sense of the way things are done is an important step towards making sure you adjust your own behaviour in a way that will connect with your colleagues. If you show up every day in a suit when everyone else is wearing jeans, unless your work requires it, you'll be already be putting up barriers between you and those around you.

Set yourself some basic rules about how to deal with your colleagues. Don't be critical of them or their work. If you have an issue with someone, approach them directly rather than airing your concerns with other people and do so in a positive, constructive way rather than being confrontational. Asking for help with problems you have with your work is a good way of breaking the ice and indicating a level of respect for colleagues' opinions, which will help. Developing these kinds of habits will create a good climate for fitting in.

Make the effort to go to social functions arranged through work. This allows you to meet your colleagues outside of the usual working environment, when they're more relaxed and the organisational hierarchies and work-related barriers are weaker and you can let your personality come across more easily. If you're asked to join people after work or at lunchtime you should accept the invitation because that's a clear invitation for you to fit in. If nobody is asking take the initiative and ask yourself, you never know you may start off a regular night out.

Try not to do things to please your colleagues, if this is the case you are not fitting in. Fitting in means making your personality a part of your working environment make sure you allow it to shine through! If the culture of your workplace doesn't appeal to you, then it's worth trying to develop alternatives. If, for example, your colleagues get legless in the pub every evening and that's not your thing, try suggesting alternatives - a sporting outing perhaps, or a musical gig or a movie. You are sure to find someone with similar interests. Of course, despite your efforts, it maybe that the culture is simply one you could never fit into. Most workplaces usually contain a variety of people and trying to make connections is nearly always well worth the effort.