Final answer:
Workplace norms are unwritten, culturally adopted standards within an organization, learned through observation and imitation, contrasted with formal rules like corporate policies or professional ethics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Workplace norms are unwritten rules of accepted behavior, best learned by observing others and seeking advice from trusted coworkers. Unlike corporate policies, organizational guidelines, or professional ethics, which may be formalized and documented, these norms tend to be informal, more like social conventions within the workplace. Understanding these can greatly help in smoothly integrating into a new organizational environment.
Learning the informal norms involves being observant and understanding the subtleties of interpersonal interactions and stakeholder expectations. This might include noticing how people take breaks, interact, or generally conduct themselves in various scenarios within the organization. Tactics such as emulating successful behaviors, asking questions when in doubt, and remaining professionally reserved while still learning the ropes can lead to successful adaptation to workplace norms.