Page 216 - Roy W. Rice - CEO Material How to Be a Leader in Any Organization-McGraw-Hill (2009)

You Manage Your Career and Don’t Let Others Do It • 197

you need to do and the goals you need to set and share—for the first week,
month, and 90 days.
Get acquainted with the political environment so that you are famil-
iar with who the influencers, alliances, and coalitions are in the power
structure. Learn how it’s done here—priorities, people, communication,
meetings, etc. Ask whose support you’ll need, what do they want out of
this, and what has worked well in the past. Find out who drives things
here, what the agendas and hidden agendas are, and what the motives
and abilities of the people are. Find out if people cooperate when they
work as a team and when they don’t. Learn the norms, habits, and
history that likely will affect your success. Observe what needs to be
repaired or healed in the organization.
Ask plenty of questions, and write down what you learn. Be aware
that some people will help you but that others will trick you and test
you—maybe because they are jealous that you got the job. Don’t rely on
what others say or report about people, product, team, goals, plans, etc.
Find out for yourself.
Establish and fully disclose your management and leadership style,
and then be consistent in executing with everyone in every circumstance.
Do not be one way to one group and another way to another group.
Pay dues all over again. Meet deadlines. Do grunt work in full view.
Jump on opportunities to make tough decisions. Take a strong stand from
time to time.
Try to break through old cliques, and don’t succumb to supporting
or joining one—be your own person.
Establish your system of communication. Grasp their system: Find
out what was there, and speak clearly as to changes, if necessary. Make it
easy for people to learn who you are; self-disclose. Then repeat and repeat
to let them know your management and leadership style, family, inter-
ests, etc.

People pick apart what you say. I approached a group of them talk-
ing after a meeting and I asked what they were doing. “Trying to
figure out what you need.” I just told you what I need. Did you hear
what I said? “Yeah, but we’re trying to figure out what you need.” Just
ask me, I’m right here.