Page 61 - Just Promoted A 12 Month Road Map for Success in Your New Leadership Role

46 Just Promoted!

■ The organizational chart. Ask about reporting relationships and “dot-
ted-line relationships.” Trace the work flow on the organizational chart.
Does your predecessor think the organizational chart is functional and
reflects the actual work flow? How should the organizational structure
and work flow be changed?
■ The mission and goals of the organization. What are the organization’s
mission and goals? What is your predecessor’s assessment of how well
the organization is reaching its goals? What does your predecessor feel
are the strengths and weaknesses that affect how well the organization
reaches its goals?
■ Your predecessor’s evaluation of the organization. What is your predeces-
sor’s assessment of the organization’s capabilities, achievements,
strengths, and weaknesses? What have been his or her greatest disap-
pointments? Greatest achievements? What has brought the most
satisfaction?
■ Your predecessor’s judgment of the staff and team members. What is your
predecessor’s assessment of department personnel? Who are the hard
workers, high achievers, entrepreneurs, risk takers, and straight shoot-
ers? Where is the informal leadership? Who molds opinions? How does
the grapevine work? Who pushes the limits, passes on stories, creates
dissension? Who is temperamental? Who fudges time or information?
Who would your predecessor like to get rid of? Who is in line for pro-
motion? Who has earned it? Who expects it? Who can keep confi-
dences? Who can be trusted? Who is reliable?
■ The most urgent needs. What are the organization’s most pressing needs
to achieve its goals?
■ The budget. What is in the budget? How much of it is discretionary?
What can be moved around? How much are fixed costs? When an unex-
pected requirement develops, where is the money usually taken from?
■ The records. What is in the files? Where are the personnel files? The
confidential files?
■ Key management information. How will your predecessor pass on key
management information? What information is available to others, and
which files are confidential?
■ Prioritization of your responsibilities. What are the major job responsi-
bilities? What did your predecessor spend his or her time on? What
responsibilities are most important to the organization? Contrast