For new leaders, success out of the gate is normally tied to being truly open to learning, communicating openly and honestly, and ultimately being prepared to take action when you know where the team needs to head.

Being new is rarely easy, but if you’ve taken the time to be a learner and to get to know your team, chances are they will follow you when you step up and lead. Here are some key things to keep in mind:

1. Overcommunicate. When someone new joins a team, it generally creates some nervousness. Everyone wants to know what you're going to change and where you're going to take the direction of the team. Be as open and transparent about what you're thinking as quickly as possible.

2. Ask questions. Being genuinely excited about the opportunity to learn and understand what's going on within the company builds credibility, and generally makes you more approachable.

3. Figure out what people really want to do. Meet with all of your team for at least an hour within your first week. Ask them about what they really enjoy doing and what they aspire to be doing in the next two or three years.

4. Get your hands dirty. Spend time doing the work that your team actually does. Not only does this help establish you as someone who leads by example, but you also learn first-hand about all of the different challenges that people experience every day.

5. Be decisive. Once you have a good lay of the land, explicitly lay out your vision and then plan to start moving toward it. People feel less unrest when they understand the bigger picture and can see where things are heading.

In association with Harvard Business Review