No doubt you have so much going on when you take over a team for the first time. Still, how you spend your time during those early days sets the stage for weeks, months or even years to come. Use it wisely by taking the time to build rapport and form relationships with your new employees.

In your first week as a leader, sit down with employees individually, and ask each the following questions:

  • What do you love about your job? The answers are the key to keeping employees motivated and engaged. Do your best to create more opportunities for employees to do the work that inspires them.
  • What do you see as a challenge? What prevents you from hitting your goals? With those questions, you learn about the obstacles and issues that prevent employees from doing their very best work. It also lets your new employees know that you want them to feel comfortable communicating with you.
  • Where do you want to be in five years? 10? 20? You’ll get a sense of their career goals, and you will be able to offer them guidance and support to help them achieve those goals.
  • What is most important to you when it comes to your career? This will offer you key insight on how to reward employees for work well done.
  • What personal goals do you have? You’ll gain insight into their ambitions and what drives them, while learning more about them on a personal level. That is important for building trust.
  • What inspires you to succeed at work? You may just learn that you can serve as that inspiration!

To learn more about your new team members, what other questions would you ask? Share them in the comments section. 

Photo Credit: http://www.freeimages.com/photo/the-deal-1442853

Want more articles like this?

Subscribe to any of our e-newsletters to get them delivered directly to your inbox.

Share your thoughts

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

  1. You should try and set down with your employees every chance you get. It should not just be once a year. Find the time to interacted with them.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}