Notes on taking over a ship from a captain who has taken over nine ships (as reported by John Condon):

First 30 days

• Don't make any changes
• Observe everything; find out what is currently going on
• Decide how you want things to be

Second 30 days

• Change things to the way you want them
• Decide on your top three or four (maybe five) key priorities/"immutables," and begin to make them crystal clear to everyone
• Decide who you will listen to and keep close with

Remainder of the term

• Make what you laid in work
• Tinker as needed but don't make major changes