Over the years I’ve taken on several roles where there was no handover and I was responsible for building something out of nothing. Although I was excited about the opportunity to build something new and hopefully make a difference, the first month was always ‘interesting’.
Where should I start? How do I know what to prioritise or do first? How do I know I’ve picked the right thing?
Below are some things that were useful to me at the time. I’m sharing these with you in case you’ve started a new role and need to get your head around what matters. They can also be useful if you’ve been in a role for a while and want to check whether you’re still on the right track.
Start with the people
Who are your stakeholders? These could be your boss, your team, key clients, the chair or members of a board or committee you are reporting to. Talk to these people to find out what they perceive as the organisation’s priorities, challenges and opportunities. Ask them what they expect from your role. If you’re comfortable enough, ask them what they would prioritise if they were in your shoes.
Gather written information
Read the strategic plan and last annual report to find out about the organisation’s strategic direction to see where you could fit in and how you could best align your work to it. Ask for organisational charts, key policies, business plans, performance measures, job descriptions, lists of ongoing projects, delegations, committee terms of reference or work plans, even if they are a little out of date. Check if there is a counterpart in another jurisdiction that could share their frameworks with you. Explore information available online from similar organisations.
Identify key dates
Are there monthly or quarterly board or committee meetings where you are expected to present updates? What is the frequency of catch ups with your supervisor or team? Does the role belong to a working group and when do they meet? Do you have monthly, quarterly and/or annual performance targets? When are your key deliverables due? Plot all of these important dates into your calendar to start building your structure and then work backwards to build a work plan and schedule.
Stay flexible
Start working through your plan but don’t consider it set in stone. Ask for feedback from stakeholders and adjust it as needed or as you are learning more about the role.
Any thoughts?
Have you ever taken on a new role and wondered what to do first? How did you go about figuring it out? Contact me and share your thoughts.
Thanks for your time.