First 90 Days of a New Leadership Role

The first encounters, whether new to the organization or new to a role, are critical to forming impressions.  The human mind quickly establishes a perception often clouded by "confirmation bias" or placing new information in the context of what one already believes about a person, role, situation, or event.

By systematically establishing a "first impression" while gathering data to which you will react as a new leader, use the first 90 days of a new role to develop engagement and create the context for future actions.

Here are some tactics to use as a checklist during your first 90 days of a new leadership role:

Systemic Assessment Checklist

o   Conduct a listening tour with a broad sample of stakeholders (create operating themes to address in the future).

o   Define your role, considering the mission of the organization.

o   Seek out knowledge (recent history, sacred cows, personal agendas, key insights).

o   Define the non-negotiables and ethical boundaries.

o   Clarify key processes (decision rights, approval boundaries, processes, timelines).

o   Assess existing and needed resources and capital needs.

o   Assess your direct reports for fit in the context of your expectations.

o   11. Quickly establish critical relationships with transparency and trust.

o   12. Carefully study the culture without bias. 

Individual Encounters

o   Be present (phoneless) in your conversations.

o   Learn "who" they are, not just what they do.

o   Experience their role where possible by observation or participation.

o   Ask how you can help them achieve their purpose/work.

o   Help without asking about matters that can immediately relieve their workload.

o   Force some breaks – ask for vacation calendars and plans to encourage time off.

o   Acknowledge life outside work by learning about their family and creating boundaries for after-work communication.

o   Offer gratitude for who they are or what they have done to reinforce the behavior.

o   Less "me" and more "we" in your vocabulary to demonstrate shared power and teamwork.

o   Overserve "me vs. you" dynamics to reduce hierarchical fear.