Asha Looks Back
After completing her posting as a trade representative in Europe, Asha was heading home. She remembered her first 90 days, trying to learn the language, build relationships, deliver on her management responsibilities and organize her personal life. She remembered how energizing it felt to be responding to these challenges and engaging with a new culture, while supporting her country and its businesses. Highlights included a successful country pavilion at a trade fair, which helped bring over $10 million in business deals.
She also enjoyed organizing a business mission led by the trade minister, involving a formal reception at the ambassador’s residence. This allowed her to show appreciation to key contacts in her market who had helped her in so many ways.
Asha had done her best to maintain her network on her trips home, and was confident that with her new level of management experience and language skills she would have a lot to offer businesses seeking to expand into Europe. Whatever came next, it had been an exhilarating few years.
Key Point
A formal handover to the successor is important to ensure continuity. Discuss strategic goals, major projects and campaigns, as well as key networks and people in the host country.
A formal handover to the successor is important to ensure continuity. Discuss strategic goals, major projects and campaigns, as well as key networks and people in the host country.
Checklist: Handover
Sign off on finances.
Sign off on assets and equipment (and handover of keys and passwords).
Brief on activities in progress.
Make introductions to key host country contacts.
Brief on who is important in host country.
Brief on staff issues and administration.
Advise on personal and family needs.
Brief on relationships between the office and embassy and other organizations.
Brief on ongoing projects and follow-up on topics.
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