Spring is here, and it’s been a great season for new beginnings. Last month my client Jason Hartley began an exciting new leadership role at SecureInfo. Jason is a nationally-recognized expert in computer security and compliance, and SecureInfo is a major provider of security solutions to Federal agencies such as the U.S. Treasury, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Air force, the U.S. Army and NASA. He’s already working with a high-profile software vendor certifying. a commercially-developed cloud computing platform for government use. He is traveling around the country to lend his expertise to high-security operations, and recently got a private tour from rocket engine engineers at a military space center. You get the picture – it was a terrific fit, he advanced his career several levels and thriving. I’m more than a bit proud of his achievements, as you can tell.

In this article, Healing the Scars of a Long Bout of Unemployment, Joann Lublin, management editor of the Wall Street Journal interviewed Jason and I about his strong and positive approach to interviewing and job transition. Since then, several people have asked me about some of the items we worked on to ensure Jason would hit the ground running. Since this is a blog and not a novel, here are a condensed version of some tips:

1. Finalize a written job description including your strategic purpose, performance criteria and reporting structure.

Putting it in “black and white” is better for everyone. Involve your first and second-level managers in editing and approving this document so you start off unequivocally on the same page. You’ll appreciate this clarity when preparing for your first performance review or renegotiating your compensation package.

2. Document your top three priorities for the first three months, with direct input from your boss.

Your plan doesn’t have to be fancy or complex – bullet points work just fine. Winston Churchill said, “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” Achieving tangible goals is the best basis for allocating your time for the first months. Your strategic thinking may be appreciated, but your talent for delivering results will quickly establish your real value.

3. Ask and listen.

Learn about your new colleagues and team while you still have a clean slate. Their candid anecdotes will reveal more in an hour than you might otherwise learn in a year. The “new guy” advantage doesn’t last long. Within weeks, you’ll blend into the culture as a subordinate, manager or potential threat.

Take notes during your initial days and weeks – yes, actual notes with pen and paper. Let people witness the effort. Thank everyone for explaining the background on the organization, corporate procedures or client relationships. Request copies of memos or presentations to get up to speed on key activities and challenges the department faced before you arrived. Awareness of recent history increases your understanding of present activities and enables you to prioritize your initiatives.

If you are a leader, meet with each direct report, including administrative staff, to learn the lay of the land. Position these introductory sessions as their time to describe their roles, share perspectives and suggest ideas privately. Observe their attitudes and behaviors. If they use their time to complain, respond with, “I’m interested in your recommendations, please share them.” Early on, you can’t know if they are just whining, offering brilliant insights or a combination.

Absorb and synthesize the collective input before setting your own agenda. Then lead a team meeting to reflect what you heard and share your observations. Summarize and document preliminary targets, priorities and recommendations. Next, ask for the team’s validation and buy-in. Establishing mutual respect as the basis for action conveys receptivity and trust. If necessary, you can always say “This is how it’s gonna be” down the road.

4. Reserve judgment.

As a newcomer, you don’t even know where to find the coffee maker or who is sleeping with whom (figuratively and literally). First impressions may change - or they may not. Keep your mind open. There will be time to draw conclusions soon enough.

This concludes this blog series on starting a new job. If you would to receive a full length version of my “Success From the Start” recommendations, including questions for you to reflect upon to boost your confidence and focus: