What I’m doing now

other than typing these letters at this very instant….

Well, I’m interviewing all my staff and all their staff and the president’s staff and the student leaders and just about everyone. I’m asking the same questions of them all. Here they are:

  1. How long have you been here? What’s your background? What do you want me to know about you?
  2. Tell me about your team.
  3. What is your big picture goal?
  4. What do you want this college to become?
  5. What are our strengths?
  6. What do you want me to change?
  7. What are you afraid I’ll do?
  8. If you had to build a team to do some undefined project, name 5 people on campus that you would you want on your team.
  9. Who would you not want on your team?
  10. What haven’t I asked that you wished I had, or what else would you like to say?

So far no one has bolted from the grilling. Tomorrow I’m interviewed by the student newspaper. Last time they quoted me was when I was interviewed for the job and the quote was, “When asked her opinion regarding open source software, the CTO candidate said, ‘I can’t tell you, that’s proprietary’ and then laughed.” At least they didn’t say “laughed like an idiot.” I hope this time to be a little more thoughtful.

3 Responses to “What I’m doing now”

  1. Celeste said:

    Mar 14, 08 at 8:06 am

    That’s really interesting. I’d love to hear the answers for #7.

  2. admin said:

    Mar 14, 08 at 5:41 pm

    So far, the answers have been of three types:
    1. I’m afraid you’ll be a puppet of the administration
    2. I’m afraid you’ll get bogged down by everything and will leave.
    3. I’m afraid you won’t change everything.

    All of this is good feedback, I must say. And, you know, I’m afraid too!

  3. Sukey said:

    Mar 15, 08 at 8:37 am

    Those questions are awesome!!! I’m stealing them for my own work – hey, this content is “open source” – right?? So, I guess it isn’t really stealing, it’s like “shareware.”


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