I have noticed during times of change people get distracted and find it hard to focus on their job Squelch rumors and try to find a diplomatic ways of surfacing questions to your executive team. They look for direction in uncertain times – you can step up and give them that direction so they can focus on the responsibilities at hand
On the gap analysis thing about where you are not as strong and figure out how you can get those missing skills. Ex: If you are not very financially ask if you can go through a month end close or set a meeting before work, lunch or after work to ask questions of one of the finance people in your office that is a trusted source. Acquiring skills you are missing can be as simple as volunteering or even taking a part time job for free for a certain amount of time. Maybe you aren’t really good at networking or your getting interviews but can’t ever seem to get to the offer stage – maybe you need some coaching help There was law student that was brilliant but didn’t interview well he didn’t get an internship two years in a row so the following year he went to one of the firms he wanted to work for and said he would work for free for the summer. He worked his finger to the bone and at the end of the summer the managing partner of the firm offered him a job. But he wouldn’t have had the job had he not taken the step to put his work on the line. Targeting companies – you have to decide is it a specific industry or companies in a specific geography On the networking piece – again make your list who are you going to call who do you know at the organizations you want to target or who do you know that can get you introduced? Also networking at professional organizations – make a list