A boss change is a tricky time for any employee. You have a responsibility to help your team through the transition as well. It may feel like you are not in control, and there are actions you can take to help manage the change. Here are some ideas for what you can do when you get a new boss.

Over Communicate

Until you know you are communicating enough about your progress and priorities, over communicate. Touch base in person and send an e-mail. Remind your new boss of things that you want to ensure she knows. Pop by and check to ensure she knows what you need her to know.

Collect and Analyze the Clues

Is she a people person or more task focused? Does she email you or call? Or text? Is she asking “so what are you going to do?” or does she ask for the data and details? Understand as much as you can about your new boss based on the behaviors you observe.

Mirror Behaviors

Your boss has done something right (she’s now your boss, after all) and it is worth mirroring her behavior. Mirroring will help you relate to her by leaning towards behaviors that are natural to her. Does she get to the office early? Arrive on time for meetings? Send out an agenda? Ask for follow-up emails?

Affirm Your Priorities

Hopefully you are thinking about your priorities each quarter, and maybe even writing them down to remind yourself what is important. You will get new insights from your new boss, and you will need to adjust. Do not fall into the trap of waiting to get priorities. Even if you are off course, you will send a strong positive message if you clearly know and communicate your priorities.

Continue to Deliver Results

Do not slow down on your path to deliver results. You may have questions about new priorities or projects that were sponsored by your old boss. When you slow down assuming you may switch priorities you appear to under perform. Your new boss will expect you are delivering your best on your priorities, not waiting for direction.

Communicate to Your People

Your team is looking to you for information on what it means to them. They know there is a new grand-boss and they have much less direct information. Communicate to them what you know, what you are doing and that you are helping manage the change. Talk to them in your one on one and in your staff meetings. Do not let this change derail your team from being effective. Keep communicating with them to help avoid anxiety and paralysis.

Refresh Your Resume

A boss change is one of the trickiest times for any new employee. A new boss the did not hire you. You do not know what she thinks of you and your performance. If you are not already keeping your resume up to date each quarter, now is definitely the time to ensure it reflects the accomplishments in your current role. Bonus tip: Ask yourself how strong is your network if you had to go looking for a new job?

What tactics have you used to manage through a change like getting a new boss?