The #1 reason engagements start slowly: missing access. Complete this before day 1.
| Category | Action |
|---|
| Communication | Add to Slack (or set up Slack Connect), email, calendar |
| Source control | GitHub/GitLab with least-privilege permissions |
| Project management | Jira/Linear/Asana access to the right board |
| Environments | Staging/dev credentials, VPN, 2FA instructions |
| Documentation | Architecture docs, runbooks, coding standards |
Execution basics
- Define a clear point of contact (EM/PM/Tech Lead)
- Schedule first-week meetings (kickoff, standups, 1:1s)
- Define a small “first win” task that ships in 1-3 days
First week plan
| Day | Focus |
|---|
| 1-2 | Confirm access, local dev setup, ship a small win |
| 3-5 | Take ownership of a small feature end-to-end |
Encourage early clarification. Misunderstandings are easier to fix on day 1 than day 10.
