The First 90 Days - Book Review
I just finished reading the book The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins. I found this book to be very thought provoking, yet it provided practical information. Throughout the book, Watkins identifies ways in which a leader can accelerate the transition process after being hired or promoted to a new position. While surveying CEO’s, he found it will take the average leader 6 months before they begin to create value within an organization. What does this cost an organization? How much money will be saved by reducing that timeframe?
To accelerate the transition process (and prevent failure), Watkins thoroughly discusses several important items new leaders should remember:
Promote Yourself – Are you adopting the right mind-set for your new job and letting go of the past?
Accelerate your Learning – Are you figuring out what you need to learn, from whom to learn it and how to speed up the learning process?
Match Strategy to Situation – Are you diagnosing the type of transition you are facing and the implications for what to do and what not to do?
Secure Early Wins – Are you focusing on vital priorities that advance long-term goals and build short-term momentum?
Negotiate Success – Are you building your relationship with your new boss, managing expectations and assembling the resources you need.
Achieve Alignment – Are you identifying and fixing misalignments of strategy, structure, systems and skills?
Build Your Team – Are you assessing, restructuring and aligning your team to leverage what you are trying to accomplish.
Create Coalitions – Are you building a base of internal and external support for your initiatives?
In summary, I found this book to be very easy to read, informational and simply a great reminder for all leaders. Whether you are starting a new position, recently promoted or taking on additional responsibilities in your existing role, this book provides a great tool to help you achieve success. A must read for every professional!
For more information on this book: The First 90 Days
Posted by Stacie Schneider, Consultant, The H.S. Group, Inc.
To accelerate the transition process (and prevent failure), Watkins thoroughly discusses several important items new leaders should remember:
Promote Yourself – Are you adopting the right mind-set for your new job and letting go of the past?
Accelerate your Learning – Are you figuring out what you need to learn, from whom to learn it and how to speed up the learning process?
Match Strategy to Situation – Are you diagnosing the type of transition you are facing and the implications for what to do and what not to do?
Secure Early Wins – Are you focusing on vital priorities that advance long-term goals and build short-term momentum?
Negotiate Success – Are you building your relationship with your new boss, managing expectations and assembling the resources you need.
Achieve Alignment – Are you identifying and fixing misalignments of strategy, structure, systems and skills?
Build Your Team – Are you assessing, restructuring and aligning your team to leverage what you are trying to accomplish.
Create Coalitions – Are you building a base of internal and external support for your initiatives?
In summary, I found this book to be very easy to read, informational and simply a great reminder for all leaders. Whether you are starting a new position, recently promoted or taking on additional responsibilities in your existing role, this book provides a great tool to help you achieve success. A must read for every professional!
For more information on this book: The First 90 Days
Posted by Stacie Schneider, Consultant, The H.S. Group, Inc.
posted by The H.S. Group at
2:53 PM
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