How to Prepare Effective Process of Taking Charge: First Phase

This technical note seeks to identify the characteristics that define the first stage of taking charge when an executive is appointed to a new position. Just as no two executives are alike, there are no two identical processes of taking charge. Still, many similarities can be found in the first stage of settling in. Preparation for a new position differs in some respects according to where the candidate worked beforehand: if the applicant to fill a new position was already employed by the company, he or she can focus on the more technical aspects of the future position before taking on the new role; meanwhile, external candidates will need to devote much of their efforts to learning the basics of the company, how it is run, its culture and its organization. However, regardless of the candidate's background, many factors point to the importance of making good use of the time prior to taking charge.