It can be difficult to step into a new role. Knowing where to start, particularly when the role has been vacant for a few months and the workload has backed up is a nightmare.

I’m starting with the big picture. Obviously there are day-to-day tasks that have to be done, but the most important thing for me is to learn the organisation: Who are its stakeholders, where is the source of power, who gets thing done, what are we trying to achieve, how am I meant to contribute?