On September 16, 2021, I will be moderating a Financial Management Institute (FMI) virtual conference: Getting Up to Speed When the Pressure is On. The conference will present six senior Edmonton area leaders [2] who have recently started their new roles. Edmonton Chapter – “Getting Up to Speed When the Pressure is On” | fmi*igf.

New and At the Top

All six panelists are senior public servants. Three from the city’s post-secondary institutes, the Chief of Police and two from the provincial government.

These levels come with an expectation of 24/7 availability, quick fixes to entrench challenges and a fresh take on venerable institutions. To better understand how they have adapted to their new roles, this morning’s program will use a story/poll/question format.

Starting with the Story, each of the six will be asked to provide their own take on starting a new position. What they discuss is at their discretion although the questions noted below can provide guidance. The speaking order is first-name alphabetical although program timing, technology may require adjustments.

An associated poll has been selected by the respective panelist or added by the moderator. Although the poll ‘frames’ the story, there is only a tangential relationship between the poll’s subject and story from the respective panelist. As time permits, questions from the audience for the individual speaker will be taken.

The New-Leader Program

Note that times listed below are provided as a guide and are subject to change.

Pre-Event (0800-0830h)

Panelists are encouraged to log in 15 minutes early. They will be placed in a separate Zoom-Room to get to know each other. The moderator will walk through the program, expectations, technologies and contingencies (e.g. network outage).

Welcome (0830-0835h)

Panelists return to the main event. The Chapter President and others will provide brief opening statements. The moderator is introduced.

Program Overview (0835-0840h)

The moderator will provide an overview of the program and encourage questions in the chat. FMI will select the most relevant questions to answer within the time available. Otherwise, Panelists are encouraged to answer questions in the chat after they speak, but not while the other panelists are speaking (out of courtesy). [Pro tip: a Word document allows for responses to be typed with both spell and grammar check]. The response can be added back in again at an opportune time. If the panelist is doing this, they are encouraged to include the question:

Are you a Cat or Dog Person? I am allergic to both but own two pet turtles.

In homage to Dr. bob Ascah.

The FMI Chapter will highlight questions of merit or of larger group interest. The moderator will attempt to ask these questions as time and circumstances permit.

Images and Graphics

Panelists are encouraged to provide in advance or share their screen and present images, pictures, power point, etc. that can help tell their story.

Introductions

The moderator will not provide a detailed biographical overview as part of his introduction. Instead, he will highlight responses the panelist had to one of these questions:

1. What is the most pleasant surprise you have had in your new role, or
2. The one thing I miss about a prior role is…., or
3. If I could mash up three things from past roles into my current job it would be…, or
4. The one piece of advice I would give someone starting their first role would be… .

Dr. Annette Trimbee; [Poll: Who is Sticking Around] (0840-0850h)

Poll Question: Have you or are you thinking of changing employers in the past/future year?

1. I changed (or in the process of changing) employers in the past year.
2. I am actively looking to leave my employer.
3. Not looking, but if the right offer came around I would consider it.
4. Happy where I am.
5. Other (e.g. retired, on p/maternity leave, sick leave, etc.).

Questions for Dr. Trimbee or discussion on the above poll subject matter.

Dr. Bill Flanagan [Poll: the Role of Family in Picking the Job] (0850-0900h)

Poll Question: How much do family considerations (children, spouse, parents, etc.) play in your decision to change jobs/employers?

1. Little to no impact on my career decisions.
2. Family considerations are equal to career considerations, on balance.
3. Family considerations influence my career decisions.
4. Family considerations are pre-dominate and over-ride career decisions.

Questions for Dr. Flanagan or discussion on the above poll subject matter.

Dale McFee [Poll: the Public-Private Sector Difference] (0900-0910h)

Poll Question: Would you consider leaving/joining the public sector for the private sector?

1. I am in the public sector and plan to stay in it even if I may change jobs, business units (e.g. Ministries, departments, etc.) or employers (e.g. city, province, Crown agency).
2. I am in the private sector and plan to stay in it even if I change jobs, business units or employers.
3. I am in the public sector and would like to work in the private sector.
4. I am in the private sector and would like to work in the public sector.
5. Not working and would like a job, please.
6. Other (retired, not actively looking for work, etc.).

Questions for Chief McFee or discussion on the above poll subject matter.

Laura Gunter [Poll: New Eyes on Old Problems] (0910-0920h)

Poll Question: What is the Importance of ‘fresh blood’ in Your Organization

1. Fresh perspectives have helped us re-think and reframe old problems, they are welcome.
2. New people are welcome but balanced against understanding our realities.
3. New perspectives have neither a positive nor negative impact on how we do our work.
4. New people need to understand how our challenges and processes work before recommending changes.
5. Wait a few months, they will be cured of their enthusiasm to improve things.
6. Other (retired, etc.).

Questions for Ms. Gunter or discussion on the above poll subject matter.

Mary Persson [Poll: the First Hundred Days] (0920-0930h)

Poll Question: If you changed roles, what are your priorities for your first 100 days (pick your top three)?

• Meet my co-workers and understand the culture of the organization.
• Learn the job and quickly improve my performance.
• Lay low until I better understand the people, job and organization.
• Identify one problem area that I can work on and fix.
• Join social elements of the organization (volunteer committees, etc.).
• Meet people and attempt to make friends/acquaintances.
• Determine the real power structures in the organization and who to focus on.
• Maintain contacts with my old employer/colleagues.
• None of the above.

Roxanne LeBlanc [Poll: the Importance of Specialization/Generalization] (0930-0940h)

Poll Question: How important is it to specialize in your field versus being a generalist.

1. Specialization creates expertise, generalization waters down one’s focus in a particular area.
2. Mostly specialize but look for occasional opportunities to step out of one’s area into the unfamiliar
3. A balance of the two is critical for work-satisfaction as well as mitigating the risk of job-obsolesce.
4. Mostly generalize but have a core specialization to fall back on or as a focus.
5. Generalization creates the greatest opportunities and job-performance, specialization should be avoided.

Questions and Panel discussion (0940-0955h)

Preference will be given to questions from audience. Questions in the chat or other forums are preferred. Nevertheless, possible panel questions include:

1. Is it easier to start a new role when you are in a senior position or in a more junior/ intermediate role and why?
2. Should organizations structure jobs so that long-tenured employees can come in as if it is first day? Are there benefits of being the ‘new-kid on the block’ that organizations should institutionalize?
3. Some of the panel has spent their career in a similar industry or organization. Others have stepped in and out of the public service and private industry. What are the challenges of not only changing jobs and organizations but also whole industries?
4. Change is challenging enough personally, how do you manage the impact on your families?
5. How do you know whether an opportunity is too good to pass up on? Also, how much does the role of chance play in your career planning?
6. As an outside applicant, what approach did you take to gather intelligence about the organization? Feel free to change names to protect the innocent or throw the appropriate people under run-away buses as you see fit.
7. Did you have a plan when you started the role? For example, some people have 7-, 30- and 100-day goals to get the lay of the land or to meet their new staff. How did you approach your new position?
8. The panel represents a diverse segment of society. Are there any special challenges for changing jobs in general or taking on a senior role that you would like to describe? Of course, strategies to mitigate these challenges are appreciated as well!
9. As we close, what advice do you have for someone, at any stage in their career, thinking about making a change or about to walk into a new employer on their first day of work?

Why Attend

Although the panelists represent senior leaders, they too started as new constables, teachers, accountants, etc. Coming up to speed as the top-dog has its challenges, their life-lessons can help all public servants, no matter their organizational level, take on new challenges.

Turning the perspective around, how can organizations welcome and integrate new employees quickly and effectively. From the newest intern to the big cheese at the top, how can organizations help people “get up speed when the pressure is on”?

Notes and References

1. The title for this blog was inspired by the song from the Rock-Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar. https://youtu.be/oqvXquqTwoU.
2. The Speakers are (in first name-alphabetical order):
   1. Annette Trimbee President and Vice-Chancellor, MacEwan University
   2. Bill Flanagan President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Alberta
   3. Dale McFee Edmonton Police Chief
   4. Laura Gunter President & CEO, NAIT
   5. Mary Persson Moving to Deputy Minister of Alberta Infrastructure effective August 9th
   6. Roxanne LeBlanc Assistant Deputy Minister, Energy