Moment of Truth #1 - The "Warts and all" Discussion with your boss

MOT #1 is before you start the role, and ideally even before you accept it ! It´s what I call the “warts and all” discussion.

As a new leader, you should ask 2 simple questions; 1. “What really needs to be done?” & 2. “Why me?”

I´m convinced that getting clarity on these will go a long way to set you up for success because it reveals a) if management have clarity themselves on what needs done & if they are confident in their choice, and b) if the incoming leader believes that they “have what it takes”, and what they are going to do about any gaps.

How empowering would it be to know before starting your role, as one leader put it to me “We chose you because we are looking for a thought leader, a change manager, with an attitude and expertise that doesn’t exist here”

In contrast, if it is just a case that “you were next in line for the promotion”, it might be time to go a bit deeper on what is ahead of you. In my coaching work with new leaders, I have seen how revealing these questions have been. And looking back at the big moves in my own career, it was when I didn’t have this clarity that I struggled.

So, how clear are you?