The First 90 Days

07 Sep 2023

The First 90 Days is a book I was given by a close friend when they heard I was moving into a new job. It was written by Michael Watkins, and was first published in 2013.

I found this book really useful to get into the right state of mind for starting a new role, and what I should look to tackle in my first 90 days. I took note of a number of the useful passages, and I am sharing them here for others as they may also prove useful.

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Tasks

Prepare Yourself

• Orient to business
• Identify and connect with stakeholders
• Clarify expectations
• Identify new skills I need that I didn’t previously have
  • What don’t I want to focus on? How can I compensate?

Accelerate Your Learning

• Avoid coming up with “the answer” too soon
• Questions and hypothesises
  • Who can provide insights?
  • 1-2-1s
  • Divergent and Convergent opinions
  • Are people from top to bottom strategically aligned, challenges, opportunities

Match Strategy to Situation

• What STARS situations I have inherited? (page 72)
  • Start-up
  • Turnaround
  • Accelerated Growth
  • Realignment
  • Sustaining Success
• Which to learn first
  • Technical
  • Cultural
  • Political
• How to best lead change in the situation
• What are the implications for the team I need to build

Negotiate Success

• How to build effective relationship with boss
  • How different from past
• Boss’ steer on which STARS situation?
• Boss’ expectations of me
  • Short, medium, long term goals
  • How I will be measured?
• Boss’ style
  • Communication
  • Frequency
  • How much detail
  • What to escalate / issues to consult with
  • How does it differ to mine?
  • How to adapt to it?
  • Speak to others
• What are my strengths
• What are my weakness, I need support on, what projects to learn
• Ask same questions too my team

Secure Early Wins

• Change behaviours to achieve business goals
  • Encourage
  • Discourage
  • Communicate effectively
• Who are key audiences
  • What messages
  • What modes
• What projects do I need to launch, who will lead?
• What predictable surprises?
  • Skills gaps
  • Retention
  • Political landmines

Achieve Alignment

• What misalignments? How to confirm or refine?
• What decisions about customers and capabilities do I need to make?
• Coherences of organisations strategic direction?
• Strengths and weaknesses of the structures?
• What are age core processes, are they functioning? Priorities?
• Underutilised resources?
• Skills gaps and what needs strengthening

Build Your Team

• How to assess team?
• What changes, which are urgent, backups
• Alignment with push (goals, incentives) and pull (shared vision)
• Shrink or expand team?
• What roles?
• How should decisions be made?

Create Alliances

• What alliances need building, internal and external
• What other agendas are being pushed
  • +ive or -ive effects on my own
  • Who will support
  • Who will oppose
  • Who can I persuade
  • Conflicts
• Long term broad alliances
• How does influence work?
• Who defers to whom
• What motivations of pivotal people
• Influence strategy
  • Argument framing
  • Incrementalism
  • Sequencing
  • Action forcing events to eliminate inaction
    • Meetings
    • Deadlines
    • Review sessions

Mange Yourself

• My vulnerabilities. How to compensate
• Control over local environment
• Ease families transition
• Strengthen advise-counsel network
  • Internal
  • External
  • Where do I need more support?
    • Technical
    • Cultural
    • Political
    • Personal