| As a new manager, there are numerous | | | | The company website can be an excellent source |
| adjustments you'll need to make, least of which is | | | | of information about the corporate mission and |
| your business perspective. On top of getting | | | | can give you insight into your company's |
| results through others rather than performing | | | | consumer. Because many businesses units |
| certain tasks yourself, you need to gather a new | | | | operate in "silos" i.e. they're not connected to or |
| view of the business landscape in which you now | | | | integrated with other functioning units of the |
| stand. Think for a moment of how a scene might | | | | company, you may have worked for your unit |
| look from the peak of a hilltop compared to that | | | | for quite some time but not have an awareness |
| same landscape viewed from the forest floor. It's | | | | of other products or customers of the company. |
| the perspective from the hilltop you need to | | | | If you haven't mined the company's website |
| obtain in order to lead your team through the | | | | before, do so now; you may discover some |
| forest. | | | | aspects of the business's face to the public that |
| Three key elements to understand are: | | | | you didn't know. |
| | | | If your company is publicly held, the most recent |
| 1. Where your business fits into the marketplace | | | | annual report will be a source of information as |
| 2. The business's measurable objectives or goals | | | | well. This is a report that public companies are |
| 3. How your team contributes to the business | | | | required to furnish to their shareholders. Though |
| achieving its overall objectives | | | | the pages of financial details may be initially |
| You may already be very clear about some of | | | | overwhelming and may not be important for you |
| these elements by virtue of having worked at | | | | to master as a new manager, check out any |
| the company prior to becoming a manager. But if | | | | letters or reports from the CEO and Chairman |
| you're lacking information in any of these areas, | | | | that are included since these address the condition |
| it's time to start backfilling. Your value to the | | | | of the business. Ask yourself: |
| company as a manager is to guide your group to | | | | - What are the trends that are discussed? |
| meaningfully contribute to achieving the company's | | | | - Are there subsidiaries or brands that you |
| articulated objectives, even if you're only | | | | weren't aware of? |
| supervising a small group. Don't ever trivialize your | | | | - Where are the company's locations in other |
| team's contribution. Every group and every | | | | countries? |
| individual plays an essential role in the organization, | | | | Though this information may not be relevant to |
| especially when they're all aimed at the same | | | | your day to day job as a manager now, having |
| corporate goals. Managers or supervisors who | | | | this information helps you to understand where |
| "get" the big picture will always stand out because | | | | your business unit fits into the larger picture. It |
| they direct their teams in alignment with the | | | | may also suggest opportunities you'd like to |
| needs of the business. | | | | pursue that you hadn't previously considered. |
| To learn and understand the three key elements | | | | Read articles related to both your company and |
| of the big picture, schedule time for yourself to | | | | your industry. You'll learn a great deal about |
| do your homework and consider your resources. | | | | competitors and where your company fits in. |
| Put 30 minutes a week on your calendar to | | | | You'll also need to analyze what's in the press. |
| gather information until you've pulled it all together. | | | | Current events having to do with the industry or |
| Think about where certain information may exist | | | | your company may not reflect the long range, big |
| that you can read and who might aid you in | | | | picture view for the company and may be |
| getting your bearings on your trek to the top of | | | | sensationalized to sell papers. |
| the hill. Following are questions to consider and | | | | Once you've done your homework, go to your |
| resources to use to gain insight into Key #1: | | | | boss and validate your conclusions. Confirm that |
| Where Your Business Fits into the Marketplace. | | | | what's on the website is still the current direction |
| How to Do Your Homework | | | | of the company. Companies are fluid; changes |
| Questions you should seek to answer are: | | | | that you should know about may not have been |
| - What's the corporate mission? | | | | posted on the website yet (and last year's annual |
| - Where does my business fit into the market? | | | | report may not reflect the current state of the |
| - Who's the competition? | | | | business). |