I just started a new job as an exhibit manager. I like it, but my staff seems mired in the past and the ways they've always done things. How do I get them to focus on the future?

In their eagerness to make a fresh start, many new managers make the mistake of ignoring their staff's past. Before you can lead your team into the future, though, it's smart to understand what's gone on before. An effective way to do that is through an informal gathering where you solicit their stories.

There are three kinds of narratives you should prompt them for when you meet: war stories, gripes and grouses, and points of pride. The first kind, war stories, covers the team's successes and failures. These tales of trade shows past let you see things from the team's perspective, and help you understand how they think.

The second kind, gripes and grouses, consists of complaints about everything from perks to workloads. While it's important to let the staffers air their discontent, keep the discussion positive, asking them to suggest ways these issues can be resolved.

Last, ask about their points of pride. Here you have an opportunity to express your sincere admiration for what they have achieved before you came on board. By acknowledging your staff's past, addressing their complaints, and showing them respect, you create a natural opportunity where you can start talking with - not to - them about how to approach future projects.