The Leader’s Pack For Meeting Individuals When Taking Over A Team

Introduction Imagine you are taking over a team and have already taken the following steps. You will have done your research and know what must be done to lead the team to success. You will have made clear contracts with the key sponsors about the picture of success. You will have a clear mandate from these sponsors – the people who employ you - to do whatever is necessary to guide the team to success.

At the same time, it can be useful to have meetings with people in the team you are taking over. You will obviously do this in your own way. But here is one approach. Explain that before the sessions you would like each person to do some pre-work. Say that you obviously have a view of the team's goals, strategy and road to success. You would, however, also like to get their in-put. Invite each person to complete the following piece of work and send it to you before the session.

The Team Member’s Pre-Work Pack For The One-To-One Session

Introduction Dear _______ As you know, I have recently taken over the leadership role in the team. Obviously I have some clear ideas about the team’s goals, strategy and road to success. But it is also important to get your input. So I would like to meet with you for a one-to-one session. Bearing this in mind, I would like you to do some pre- work before the session. You can send it to me ahead of the session. We can then use it to focus on how we can work well together to achieve the team’s goals. Here is an introduction to the exercises.

*My view of the team’s goals. Describe what you believe should be the team’s goals for us to achieve success. Some goals are obviously given to us and are mandatory, but we would also like your views. *My view of the team’s strategies. Describe what you believe should be the three key strategies the team should follow to achieve these goals. *My view of the team’s challenges. Describe what you believe to be the team’s key challenges and how we can tackle these successfully. *My strengths. Describe where you deliver As, Bs and Cs.

*My best contribution. Bearing in mind the team’s goals and your strengths, describe what you believe would be your best contribution to achieving the team’s goals. There are obviously many things the team needs to deliver, so we cannot guarantee that it will be possible to completely create this role. But it is important for us to know what you believe would be your best contribution There is also space for highlighting any other topics you would like to discuss in the one-to-one. The pre-work will take some time. It invites you to focus on the team’s overall strategy, as well as your part. So set aside some time to do the exercises. You can send it to me ahead of the session and then we will explore it together.

The following pages invite you to describe what you believe should be the team’s goals if we are to achieve success. As mentioned, some goals will be given to us and are mandatory, but we would also like your views.

I believe the team’s top three goals should be: 1) To For example: *

2) To For example: * 3) To For example: *

The following pages invite you to describe what you believe should be the team’s three key strategies for working towards achieving the goals.

I believe the team’s top three strategies for working towards achieving the goals should be: 1) To For example: *

2) To For example: * 3) To For example: *

The following pages invite you to describe what you believe are the team’s top three challenges and the specific things it can do to tackle these challenges successfully.

I believe the team’s top three challenges are: 1) To The specific things we can do to tackle this challenge successfully are: *

2) To The specific things we can do to tackle this challenge successfully are: * 3) To The specific things we can do to tackle this challenge successfully are: *

This exercise invites you to clarify your strengths. Please be as honest as possible when doing the exercise. * Describe the deeply satisfying activities where you deliver – or have the potential to deliver – As, rather than Bs or Cs. These may be particular kinds of projects, tasks or other activities. Give concrete examples. Please note. The emphasis is on the word ‘Deliver’.

* Describe where you deliver Bs or Cs. The B activities are probably those that you can do reasonably well. They are not your As, however, or maybe they once were but now you get bored doing them. The C activities are those where you have little aptitude or desire to learn.

As. The deeply satisfying activities, projects or other tasks where I deliver – or have the potential to deliver - As are: 1) For example: *

2) For example: * 3) For example: *

Bs. The activities where I deliver Bs are: * Cs. The activities where I deliver Cs are: *

Introduction The following pages invite you to describe your potential best contribution. Start by bearing in mind the team’s goals. Try to link your strengths and best contribution to achieving these goals. If possible, also outline the potential pluses and minuses of making this contribution. Again, we cannot guarantee that it will be possible for you to do all these things. But it would be useful to know what you believe would be your best contribution.

Bearing in the team’s goals and my strengths, I believe my best contribution to the team – together with specific examples - would be : 1)To For example: *

2)To For example: * 3)To For example: *

Pluses. The pluses of making this contribution – for the team, customers and myself – would be : * Minuses. The potential minuses – or other implications – would be : *

The specific things I/We could do to build on the pluses and minimise the minuses would be: *

The following page provides space for any other topics you would like to discuss at our meeting.

The other topics I would like to explore are: *