Entry-level people have supervisors and HR people. But you bring in someone as president, tell them you want 20 percent return on equity, and leave them pretty much on their own. HR can help executives increase their chances of success by making sure they clearly understand the role they re expected to play, says Aherne. Encourage them to confirm with their bosses what is expected of them in the first year. Make sure they understand how their performance will be measured and ascertain their boss s preferred method for getting progress reports and feedback.
Clarity is key.
Everything should be set out clearly and unambiguously. At The Learning Company, Shupert makes certain the message is hammered home by three influential stakeholders. They are briefed by their boss, the CEO and by me from an HR perspective. Paint the Big Picture A briefing by HR can be an essential part of helping incoming executives check the organization s pulse. But it should cover more than HR issues.