Editors Note: This is the third of three blog posts based on the First-Time Administrators Handbook. You can read the first two posts here and here.

by Niles Anderegg, research and content development associate, ICMA   

When starting out as a first-time administrator, especially in a new community, you have a lot to remember and accomplish. There are the big things you need to do, including establishing your relationship with councilmembers and laying out your vision on how you want your community to be run. What can get lost in all the changes, however, are the smaller steps that you can take on the first day to set the tone for your organization and get you started off on the right foot. Here are seven things you can do right away as a first-time administrator.

1. Show up ahead of time.

2. Plan to spend most of your time listening to people.  

3. Establish a relationship with your new administrative assistant, if you have one. Let him or her know how you want to operate, and discuss office procedures.

4. Schedule time with the assistant manager, if there is one, and start to build rapport.

5. Wander around and introduce yourself to people. Don’t wait in your office for everyone to come to you.

6. Make sure that you have all the right keys, security codes, and pass cards, and that you know the location of the bathrooms.

7. Bring something personal into your office to help set the tone and define your style.

These are just a few things that you can do. To learn more about being a first-time administrator, check out the First-time Administrator Handbook.

Related Content 

First-Time Administrators: Six Tips for Researching a New Community. This 2018 blog post provides tips on what you should be researching when potentially taking a job with a new community. 

Career Compass No. 45: City Managers Need Coaches Too. In this 2015 issue of Career Compass, Dr. Benest reminds us that everyone can benefit from a coach.

5 Future Leadership Attributes for the Public Administrator. In this 2016 blog post, the focus is on what leadership skills public administrators will need when faced with 21st-century problems.