First meeting with new team

[Bluemuf]

I am invited to a meeting if my new team. I haven't started yet, not for a couple of months and the current leader will still be there.

We have been told "we" should set the agenda.

It's a small operations team.

I have some ideas but what would you want to cover.

Also how much input would you expect the "visitor" to have? Should I let the outgoing manager lead?

Do you know/are in communciation with the existing leader?

I'd expect them to lead, to be honest, maybe including an introduction to you where you could let them know what your focus might be when you get into post and that you'll be open to feedback, support etc from the team during the bedding in period.

If it's e.g. as part of a big shake up of the team and how they do things, I might expect that you set that out briefly and ask the existing team lead to give you time to do so, but I'd largely expect them to lead it as they're still driving at the moment.

I would use it as an information gathering meeting. Watch for body language, who listens, who interrupts, who is looking at their phone, who makes faces, who makes helpful remarks, who repeats everything already said just to say something. Try to get a feel of the dynamics of the group.

They will also be sizing you up, so have open body language, look interested, if you speak ,or are asked to speak, try to remember and use peoples names. Give them a contact number.

Let the current leader lead the discussion, partly because you won’t be up to speed on current issues and also it will give you an idea of their management style , and how effective it seems to be with the team. Don’t commit to anything, but make notes of who says what, if you are pushed say something like this is an interesting idea, we can discuss it further when I have settled in.