Question: “Somer, I have an interview coming up with people who directly report to this position. That’s tricky… How should I approach these conversations?” ~CTO
Answer:
I have seen this before. Half the time it’s a great idea. The other half, not so much. More on that in another post.
Here’s my advice:
1. Gather information.
Talk to the hiring manager or recruiter to understand the purpose of meeting directs. What are they looking to get out of it? What has their experience been in the past? What do they need to hear from you as their new potential boss? Any tips?
2. Be yourself.
Relax. This isn’t about having the perfect buttoned up answers. This is about these people leaving the meeting going, “wow, I’d love to work for that person!”
3. Ask questions.
Anyone interviewing you as a new direct manager would want to know your management style and what’s in it for them. So answer the question, then turn it back to them. “Here’s my style… do you think that would work here?” “Here’s an example of how I shared the big picture vision with my team, is that important to you?”
4. Listen.
Let them drive the conversation. They have a lot on their mind.
See the original LinkedIn post here
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