Asking the Right Questions: Your First Week in a new Change Management Role
- Kerrie Smit
- Mar 11
- 3 min read
Your first week in a new role or project as a Change Manager is a prime opportunity to gather crucial information and understand the organisational context. Asking the right questions will help you get up to speed quickly and set the stage for success.
We've compiled a list of a few key questions to help you ensure you're on the right track early. This is not a definitive list! Use these suggestions as a starting point for your own brainstorm on what you need to know about the new role.
About the Organisation
Start with the big picture to ensure you understand the context you'll be working in. Questions like these can help you position the specific change you're dealing with and ensure you've picked up how it ties in to the broader organisational strategy or context.
What is the organisation's overall strategy and vision?
What are the key priorities for the next year?
What is the organisational culture like?
How does the organisation measure success?
About Change Management
It's essential to understand how the project or organisation intends to conduct the change management process. Knowing this up front will save confusion around roles and responsibilities, and help to understand expectations in place for your role.
Bear in mind, though, that an organisational change management model or framework is no replacement for the experience and capability you bring to the organisation.
What change management methodologies are used in the organisation?
What are the current change initiatives underway?
What have been the successes and challenges of past change initiatives?
How is change management perceived within the organisation?
About Your Role
Now you understand how change management is carried out in the organisation, it's time to investigate the expectations of your role specifically. Asking the right questions about exactly what is expected helps get you up to speed quickly and set up for success in your new change management role.
What are the key expectations for my role?
What are the short-term and long-term goals for my position?
Who are the key stakeholders I should be working with?
What resources are available to support me in my role?
About the Team
So far you've sought to understand the context, how change management is performed in the organisation, and key expectations of your role. Change management is a team event, so use questions like these to identify what help might be available to deliver on your commitments.
Who are the members of my team and what are their roles?
What are the team's strengths and weaknesses?
How does the team collaborate and communicate?
About Specific Projects
Most change managers work on projects, supporting the delivery of change adoption for specific solutions that resolve business problems, facilitate growth or deal with external factors. Delivery of solutions is usually organised into projects or programs. Understanding the project you're assigned to is essential to ensure you're working on the right things from your first day on the job.
What are the goals and objectives of this project?
Who are the key stakeholders involved in this project?
What are the potential risks and challenges associated with this project?
General Tips for Asking Questions
Effective questioning is key for your knowledge of your new assignment and for crafting the dialogue you'll be having with stakeholders, team members, impacted groups, people leaders, service providers and others.
Enhance your skills with these tips and remember to allow time for thoughtful answers. Good questioning improves interactions and extracts valuable insights in any setting.
Be curious and open-minded.
Ask open-ended questions to encourage discussion.
Listen actively to the answers.
Take notes and document your findings.
Don't be afraid to ask clarifying questions.
Be respectful of people's time.
By asking the right questions in your first week, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the organisation, your role, and the change legacy and landscape. This will help you make informed decisions and set yourself up for success.
Asking the Right Questions for Change Management Success
In your first week as a Change Manager, it's crucial to gather essential information and understand the organisational context. Asking the right questions will help you integrate quickly and set the stage for success. Start by understanding the organisation's strategy, culture, and success metrics. Enquire about the change management methodologies in use, current initiatives, and past successes and challenges. Next, clarify the expectations of your role, identify key stakeholders, and assess available resources. Understand your team’s dynamics and strengths. For specific projects, know the goals, stakeholders, and potential risks.
Effective questioning is vital, so be curious, ask open-ended questions, listen actively, and document your findings. By doing so, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of the organisation, your role, and the change landscape, setting yourself up for informed decision-making and success.
To get some one-off help from a professional change management coach, book an hour with Agencia Change.
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