In life you end up being promoted to a new position with enhanced responsibilities. The new responsibilities may or may not be familiar to you. Remember you could be the only new staff in the section or department and existing are waiting to see your style of management. Many will adopt the wait and see approach as they are not so sure of your expectations out of the team. There are also internal and external meetings to attend. Your in-tray is full with pending issues which you have to attend to.
Determine the responsibilities of the position
It is advisable to hold a meeting with the person you are reporting to before you do anything to discuss the responsibilities of the position including the handover report. The discussion should include the resources available to you in the department and the challenges of the department. You may wish to confirm the support including training which will be available to you during the probation period when you are still adjusting to the new position. Confirm whether the former head will be available for the support in case the former head is still in the organisation
Positive mindset
You need an open mind to your new responsibilities . Do not have a fixed mind on anything. In life the words no or impossible only exists in the minds of people. You have to listen to what the existing staff are telling you as they explain how they have been conducting the work. Do not criticize them at this material time as you have not been brought in as an investigator but to deliver service to the customers with existing team. Also confirm the challenges which the team has been facing and how in their view the challenges can be overcome in order to move forward.
Plan the execution of work
You have to plan your work with your team so that every team member is aware when each deliverable will be required. The plan will also enable the team to identify the challenges early enough for action to be taken to enable work to be delivered in accordance with the plan. Your plan has to be made part and parcel of the master plan of an organisation.
Seek support and guidance
Where you are not so sure of what to do seek support and guidance from those who can give it. Talk to your head of department, the Chief Executive Officer and other persons that you can trust can give support. Be careful of organisation’s sensitive information if you are seeking advice from some one outside the organisation.
Delegate to your team
Do not imagine you can do everything by yourself. You have to delegate to other people within your department. You will be preparing for failure if you do delegate all the work.You have to offer support so that you can realise the fruits of team spirit.
Engage the client
You may be having so many deadlines to handle but time is not available . It is better to engage the client to discuss possible adjustment on the timing of delivery. Sometimes clients will create pressure for your team through having strict delivery plan without a reason. The client may not have strict reporting time but yet puts pressure on the audit to deliver the audit reports. By talking to the client you are able to negoatiate changes in the delivery time table.
Author
John Muhaise Bikalemesa
Director: Big Drum Advisory Services Limited
