Dear Dan: What Questions Should I Ask My CEO
Dear Dan,
I have a new position within our company. Now I report directly to the CEO. What questions should I ask during our first meeting?
Sincerely,
Bob
Dear Bob,
Congratulations on earning a new position. Here’s a list of questions to choose from. I recommend you pick two or three.
Safe landing strip:
The landing strip for questions is the sentence before the question that declares your intention. Questions can feel awkward. People wonder what you’re after. It’s best to tell them why you’re asking before you ask.
The sentence before the question narrows responses. Help listeners focus on your interests.
- I’m just curious.
- I wonder what’s important to you.
- I want to be sure I focus on….
- I want to bring value to our customers.
- I want to focus my energy on important things.
Questions to ask the CEO:
1. What will be true six months from now?
Ask from three perspectives, for customers, your organization, and for yourself.
“I want to bring value to our customers. If I’m wildly successful in this new role, what will be true for our customers six months from now?”
2. What value do you believe I can bring our customers?
Don’t ask, “What value can I bring our customers?” Ask the question from a personal perspective. You might not hear a personal answer, but it’s worth a try.
3. What did you see in me that prompted you to offer me this position?
Don’t sound needy when you ask this question. Use a landing strip sentence.
- “I want to be sure I understand how I earned this position.”
- “I look forward to serving in this new capacity. If you don’t mind me asking, what did you see in me that caused you to offer me this position?”
Listen for specific skills, attitudes, and behaviors. Gently ask a second question if their answer focuses on the work. - “That’s helpful. I’m also interested in any specific skills you noticed.” Insert words like, strengths, talents, attitudes, or behaviors in the place of skills.
- “That’s helpful. I wonder if…?”
- “I appreciate that. Could you say more about…?”
4. What will I not have done if I fail at this position?
Set a timeframe. “Six months from now.”
Don’t sound insecure. Build a safe landing strip. “I want to be sure I understand the key success factors of this role from your perspective.”
10 Possible questions:
- What would you like me to know about you?
- What…