Role Clarity Discussion

Purpose
Provide an outline for the new colleague to clarify the role with the hiring mangaer, and have a
dialogue to ensure understanding of how the relationship and work can evolve successfully.

Participants
New Colleague and Hiring Manager

Talking Points:
Start by outlining your (the colleague’s) understanding of the role and work priorities.
 Check for understanding of the actual tasks and responsibilities the manager (or others)
have provided in the way of describing or demonstrating the work, including the use of
tools and processes to follow.
o Is there a disconnect or are you aligned?
o If there is a disconnect, what is it?
 Talk about gaps, prioritize tasks and training needed, and develop an action plan on how to
address the disconnects, if needed.

Tips for Building a Relationship with your Manager:

 Assess how the manager likes to operate – what’s the preferred communication
style/behaviors, what’s important, any hot buttons, is the focus on details or the big
picture?
 Determine the best way to converse and be stay connected with your manager, based on
those perferences – would information/updates be best communicated directly or via
email, in sound bites or detailed descriptions, during touch bases or more regularly, and is
the preference to be more or less formal, etc?
 Ask how often the manager would like to check-in with you on work priorities and key
deliverables, the format preferred, and if you should schedule regular meetings, how often?
 Inquire about what the manager’s expectations and preferences are for working together,
and check for understanding on your part.

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