Key Questions for all Executives
In Executive Coaching, I often work with newly appointed executives. The job is to help them ‘scope’ what they are going to do and overcome the inevitable speed bumps which occur during the entry process. Here’s a listing of actual questions discussed with a senior banking executive who was 3 months into his new job. Even if you are not in a ‘new job’ could you answer these questions?
#1: 100 Day Action Plan (Personal Effectiveness)
- Did you have a formal plan to help you ‘think through’ the role? Did you follow it?
- Are you ‘getting through’ all the issues? Are you avoiding any critical issues because they are distasteful, socially awkward or where you don’t feel competent?
- Do you feel that you are making a difference? Too soon to make this judgment?
- Do you have a ‘picture’ of what you wish to achieve in the next 2 years?
#2: Synchronisation Agenda (identifying/working with key stakeholders)
- How much effort did you make in formalising a stakeholder map? Did it add value?
- How well is this working (helping to build personal relationships)?
- Do you have concerns at this point about particular stakeholders?
#3: Driving Strategy
- Is the FOG clearing? (for you, for everyone else on your team).
- Do you have an agreed ‘tomorrow’ with your team?
- Are you spending enough time with external audiences e.g. consultants, industry groups, conferences etc. to really understand how the market is shaping up?
#4: Organisational Change
- To what extent do you have a ‘worked out’ organisation change strategy?
- What % of your time is spent trying to influence the work of others rather than being overly busy/doing yourself?
- How visible are you in the business? How much time are you spending on the ‘leadership’ agenda? (face-to-face contact with the troops). What ‘technology’ (e.g. social media) possibilities exist under this heading?
#5: Day Job: Meeting/Beating the Numbers
- The current scorecard provides the data you need to ‘sleep easy’?
- How well are you doing on Strategic Cost Control? Are the current targets being met?
- Where are your concerns/what should you do?
- Have you shifted your team from ‘beating budget’ to ‘beating competitors’?
- If ‘execution is the new Mantra’ — are you getting there?
#6: Team Effectiveness
- How well is you team working – as a team?
- Do you have the managerial bench strength to run this organisation?
- Do you need to Buy, Build, Borrow, Bounce, Bind any particular talent?
- Management processes (meetings, budgeting arrangements etc.) are working well?
- Everyone is crystal clear on their role?
- You are creating growth opportunities for individuals? (not just piling on more work).
- You know what they really want from their careers/are helping them with this?
- Are you getting someone ready to do your job? Should you be?
#7: Building Organisation Capability
- Are you building the infrastructure for ‘tomorrow’?
- Are you happy with the IT plan? The HR plan?
- Where are you on the critical processes (e.g. Selling, Customer Service)?
- Are you spending enough time ‘getting the organisation ready for a new tomorrow’? (‘shovelling coal into the engine’ versus being ‘on the bridge’).
- Where are you on Mission/Vision/Values. Any mileage in those concepts for you?
#8: Managing Boundaries
- How well are you managing relationships with key accounts, politicians etc?
- How well are you using the organisation’s Corporate Citizenship programme?
- Have you impressed the institutional investors? How do you know?
#9: Work/Life Balance
- How well are you doing under this heading? Is it a myth?
- Can you do your job in reasonable hours?
- Are you staying somewhat fit/healthy?
- Do you feel happy/fulfilled in the new role?
So What? Is there any value in this listing of questions for you? While not every question will be relevant, I’m guessing that about 80% of the stuff listed will be relevant to most of us. Don’t be like the guy I met last week. When I asked him how his new job was going, he replied: “Only six more years of this shit and then I’m out.” That’s not a job. That’s a sentence!
Paul
PS Lighter Moment: From John McGlynn (does that man do any work at all?).
The mother-in-law arrives home from shopping to find her son-in-law Paddy in a steaming rage and hurriedly packing his suitcase.
“What happened Paddy?” she asks anxiously.
“I’ll tell you what happened. I sent an email to my wife – your daughter- telling her I was coming home today from my fishing trip. I get home… and guess what I found? Yes, my wife Jean, naked with Joe Murphy in our marital bed! This is unforgivable, the end of our marriage. I’m done. I’m leaving forever.”
“Ah now, calm down, calm down Paddy” says the mother-in-law.“There’s something very odd going on here. My daughter would never do such a thing! There must be a simple explanation. I’ll speak to her immediately and find out what happened.”
Moments later, the mother-in-law comes back with a big smile.
“Paddy. I told you there must be a simple explanation. She never got your E-mail!”
From Joe Bell: “Don’t know whether this is a scam or not. Just got a text stating that I’d won €250 or 2 tickets to an Elvis Presley tribute night. It said: “Press 1 for the money or 2 for the Show.”
Tip of the Week: Never do a runner from a Kenyan restauraunt!
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