Page 114 - Just Promoted A 12 Month Road Map for Success in Your New Leadership Role

Selecting, Building, and Developing Your Work Team 99

■ What unique knowledge or skill does this person have that contributes
to the strength of our management team?
■ How has this person been utilized? What initiatives has she demon-
strated in her present or previous positions?
■ In what environment or assignments did this person thrive or not do
so well?
■ Of this person’s top achievements, which ones relate to what we need?
To our future needs?
■ How does this person like to work? What is her work style? Does this
person fit in with our culture and with my style?
■ What are the strengths, weaknesses, and areas that this person is
presently developing?
■ How do this person’s personal goals, desires, and aspirations match
what we need?
■ In summary, what does this person bring to the job and to our leader-
ship team?

2. Observe performance on the job. See who gets the job done and who
misses deadlines or has to redo work. Review documents the candidate has
authored and programs he or she has developed. Observe internal candidates
at staff meetings; watch them work with their staff at meetings and informally
in the department. As you discuss work with the candidates’ direct reports, be
alert to suggestions of problems or strengths, and follow up on them.

3. Ask people you trust to refer candidates to you. Attend professional meet-
ings, and talk to people with their own networks of strong candidates. Your
colleagues and contacts outside the company have seen potential candidates
in a variety of settings over a period of time. Ask for counsel and advice. Also
ask people in your department to make recommendations. If you use this
approach, be cautious in your discussions, particularly as they relate to incum-
bents. It is easy to start unnecessary rumors and create uneasiness in your
organization.

When the requirements of the job match the employee’s qualifications, you
likely have a strong candidate. This is true when you select leaders, managers,