1.6 THE SKILLS YOU NEED TO BE A GREAT BOSS: Responsibility in a New Leadership Role

(EXTRACTION FROM TEAM MANAGEMENT: Management Skills at http://www.mindtools.com)

 

Taking Control of Your Accountabilities

Responsible is defined as being "liable to be called to account".  A leader is responsible for everything that happens in the organization, and be held accountable for everything that happens, good or bad.  To fulfil your obligations as a leader and to be fully responsible, you need to:

BUILD AND MAINTAIN AN ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ORGANIZATION
Understand and Confirm Your Organization's Mission	·        re-examine what your organization aims to do ·        reflect on the mission statement ·        consider how faithfully it represents the purpose of the organization
Analyze Risks	·        think about what could go wrong ·        Conduct a risk analysis to identify potential problems and their consequences o   spend time with the outgoing leader o   have an honest conversation about both the role and the organization o   look outside your organization for many of the risks that might occur
Understand Key Stakeholders	·        Conduct a stakeholder analysis to identify the people whose views matter most ·        talk to key internal and external clients
Understand Processes, Values, Culture, and Management Structure	·        conduct a thorough review of your organization ·        get a full picture of how your organization's processes, people, culture, values, and management structure help or hinder its ability to deliver what your customers expect ·        explore the key functions of your organization in detail ·        Look at roles and responsibilities, work flows, information and budget management processes, and ongoing projects ·        Look for evidence that procedures are being followed – and that they're working ·        Look at how culture and values o   affect processes o   may need to change to make your organization more successful
Audit and Review Internal Systems	·        ensure that the information you rely on is correct and comprehensive ·        monitor your organization effectively to ensure that it's doing what it should do
Challenge Your Findings	·        compare your risk analysis with the information that you've gathered ·        Question everything, and use common sense
Be Constantly Curious	·        continue to scan for new problems, and prevent them from escalating ·        Build time into your schedule to do this ·        Look for the right balance between micromanagement and staying informed about people, events, and trends ·        Prioritize demands on your time ·        manage crises calmly ·        Visit all parts of the organization also builds trust