On culture for this week.
At leadership level, saying yes to an opportunity too quickly can be career-limiting.
Saying no strategically can be career-defining.
Here are 15 sharp questions to assess any senior opportunity before you sign on the dotted line:
1. What problem am I really being hired to solve?
Not the polished job description.
The messy, real issue.
2. Who truly owns the decision-making power?
Org charts are fantasy.
Influence maps reveal reality.
3. Is the CEO or executive team aligned on expectations?
Conflicted leadership = constant firefighting.
4. Does the culture support transformation?
Airlines, OEMs, space ventures — culture eats strategy for breakfast.
5. What does success look like in 12 months?
Vague answers?
Red flag.
6. Are resources, budget, and talent proportional to ambition?
High targets + low support = stress and failure.
7. Who are the hidden blockers?
Sometimes the “problem” is politics, not strategy.
8. What happened to the last person in this seat?
Turnover tells a story that job descriptions hide.
9. How do teams handle bad news?
If honesty is punished, innovation dies.
10. Who do I need to influence outside my direct team?
Cross-functional alignment is everything.
11. Is there clarity on authority vs. autonomy?
Decision-making without empowerment is window dressing.
12. Does the market care about what the company is solving?
If the answer is “we hope so,” your impact will be limited.
13. Will this role stretch my leadership — or just fill my calendar?
Senior roles should amplify your influence.
Not just your tasks.
14. Does this opportunity align with my personal energy and values?
Passion matters — the aerospace sector is high-pressure and unforgiving.
15. How will this role define the next 5 years of my career?
Always think beyond the immediate.
Senior decisions compound.
At leadership levels, every opportunity is a high-stakes decision.
The wrong role doesn’t just cost you a job.
It costs years of impact, your reputation, and the energy you’ll never get back.
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#culturematters #hiring #aviation
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