How To Take Over An Existing Office

It's always fulfilling when you take over an existing office. The personnel, the policies and procedures, the relationships, all extremely valuable information. Here are my tips on how to take over a successful, existing, office.

1. Keep an open mind.

                  The previous manager will hopefully have done a significant amount of work to get the team where they are now. They will have molded the team to fit their concept and their idea of what the activities leading to success will need to look and act like. They will have put their heart and soul into that team. Unless they are being transitioned out for negative reasons, you will hopefully spend some time transitioning with them and learning from them. Learn as much as you can. Learn what they have done, what they haven't yet accomplished, and what they were working on.

Pump your breaks and just listen at this time.

2. Read everything.

Take in all available information, to include HR files on personnel, but take thoughts on the staff with a grain of salt. Identify what previous leadership has done to help folks grow, their location grow, and their organization grow. Generate your own opinions on personnel once working with the team.

3. Touch base with everyone, one-on-one. Ask a couple of important questions.

• Tell me what you do, or tell me what your day to day looks like.
• What task(s) do you feel is(are) a waste of your time or expertise?
• Is there a skill or expertise that you possess that we aren't utilizing yet?
• What's the most important thing you do each day to ensure your success?
• What is a skill or skillset that I can help you learn?
• Do you feel you have the necessary tools to achieve success and/or exceed expectations?
• What are your short-term and long-term goals? Please be specific.

Lastly, take your time making changes.

Everyone knows there was a change in leadership. There isn't a need to show the strength of your pen immediately. Take your time, learn about your team, and see how everyone works together. See what works and what doesn't work. Implementing changes too early can damage the team morale and disturb any progress that has been made. Take your time, and

make changes tactfully.