Meeting Your Team
I think part of any leader’s job is to meet as many people as possible in their organization. I’ve seen some executives hide behind their computer screen launching salvos of emails, policies and mission statements. These usually fall harmlessly to the ground without the intended impact on the culture that the executive had hoped for.
I’m fortunate that my team of approximately fifty is small enough that I can meet and introduce myself to everyone. It’s really important to put a name with a face on both sides of the table. There is a lot of fear and concern when a new executive starts. By meeting with everyone, it helps them understand that I will be leading by walking around. I’ll have an interest in each person and what they are trying to accomplish professionally and personally. It also helps me because I get to listen to what people’s hopes and dreams are. They also tell me what works and doesn’t work at the company. This is critical feedback on the true health of the organization and the company.
Meeting face to face helps everyone understand what is truly going on. You can’t find that type of feedback by simply launching emails at a mailing list.
