This was a tough question I was once asked in an interview. He wanted to know what was I going upon starting this new engagement.
So I gave an answer of all the things I would do in the first two weeks. I’d understand the context, get a feel for the environment, conduct some 1-2-1s.
I was interrupted, “No. Give me the steps of exactly what you are going to do, concretely.”
I fluffed it.
I lost the opportunity based on that question alone.
Interestingly, a few years later, it was me who was interviewing a consultant who was going a team leadership role, and I asked him the same question, “so what will the first two weeks look like, tell me what you will do, step by step”.
He fluffed it. All wishy washy.
Since then I realised that how you start determines how you continue. The better you start, the better you can continue.
You need to know how to start, how to do this with a team, and you need to know how to pitch it convincingly.
So here’s an framework you can use to help you in your conversations.
A clear two-week plan
Frist days: Signal the intent
- Meet sponsor and clarify expectations of success
- Communicate to the team: we will be running a structured kickoff
- Block two full days in the next 2–3 weeks for a Team Liftoff
- Set expectation with leadership: time invested now reduces risk later
Day 3 – 8: Preparation for Liftoff
- Review all available artefacts (roadmap, vision, contracts, metrics)
- Conduct short 1:1s / intros with key team members, reassure, align
- Work with Product / Stakeholders and obtain ‘Product vision’
- Prepare the Liftoff structure tailored to the team’s context and maturity
Day 9 & 10: Liftoff Event
Run a structured two-day Team Liftoff.
The focus is simple:
- Clarify Purpose (vision, mission and objectives)
- Alignment of the team (how we operate together)
- Make visible the Context (resources, dependencies, risks)
The outcomes from the first two weeks will be:
- A visible Team Charter
- Agreed measures of success
- Defined working agreements
- A first synchronised milestone
You’ll then be able to ask the interviewer if he’d like to know more about what a Liftoff is and why it’s important to start well.
“Sure”, I’m sure he or she will say.
Liftoff is an internationally recognised approach for starting and restarting teams, developed by agile thought leaders Diana Larsen and Ainsley Lies.
It’s a two day workshop that brings the whole team and leadership together to get full alignment.
As a rule of thumb, every hour invested into aligning the team at this early stage, saves about a week of wheel-spinning down the line.
Conclusion
In the interviewer’s eyes, you should come across as prepared, knowledgable, confident, business focussed and outcome orientated. You’re there to solve their problems and help their business.
Now you’re already talking about high-performance, reducing waste and mitigating risks. That should be the basis for a strong conversation about next steps of your collaboration.
And one last thing, good luck!
Get this free Team Liftoffs Canvas
Includes 9 core activities, plus links to further information and links to helpful explanatory videos ↓