The First 90 Days - Part 1

The First 90 Days - Part 1

Success Strategies for New Leaders

Making the transition into a new senior role can be tough. Consider a new political leader taking power or a new CEO taking the helm. Their appointment is full of expectation and anticipation from those around them. The first 90 days are critical to ensure a smooth transition. Here’s our advice to help you through this important period.

Promote yourself – Make the mental break from your old job and prepare to take the challenge of the new one. Be visible and accessible, and don’t assume that all the key things that made you successful in your previous post will continue to work in your new role – there’s a very real danger that they won’t.
Accelerate your learning – You need to climb the learning curve as fast as you can in your organisation. This means understanding its markets, products, technologies, systems and structures as well as its culture and politics.

Secure some early wins – Early successes help build your credibility and create momentum. It also helps those who appointed you breathe a sigh of relief. Try and find ways to create value, improve business results and get to the breakeven points quickly.

Negotiate success – This is about setting and managing expectations and building a productive working relationship with those more senior.

Build your team – If you are inheriting a team, you will need to evaluate its members and perhaps restructure. Your willingness to make tough decisions early on about the right people for the job is vital to ensure you can meet your goals. You need to be both strategic and systematic in approaching team building challenges.

Keep your balance – In the turmoil of transition you need to maintain your equilibrium and preserve your good judgement. The risks of losing perspective, becoming isolated and making bad decisions are ever present during transitions.

Acorn offers a ‘First 90 Days’ leadership coaching model based on the ideas presented by Michael Watkins in his book The First 90 Days. Acorn's coaching model can help those taking on new challenges step up to the mark and build a credible foundation that will secure their success.

The ‘First 90 Days’ model is based around a programme of 1:1 coaching that helps leaders take action and create a plan that will ensure successes. The programme also helps delegates consider broader implications in their new role including; company politics, ‘selling’ back successes, and getting the best from you new team.

Click here to read The First 90 Days - Part Two

Contact us to find out more about our ‘First 90 Days’ programme.

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