The Smart Spin

# 66 The First 90 Days: Mastering Leadership Transition by Michael Watkins

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In this episode, we are discussing about First 90 days from Michael Waatkins. He discuss in his book for new leaders navigating organizational transitions. The book emphasizes a structured approach to the initial three months in a new leadership role, focusing on accelerating learning, building key relationships, securing early wins, and aligning the organization. It presents a model categorizing different change situations ("STARS") to help tailor strategies, highlighting the crucial role of the new leader's relationship with their boss and direct reports. The text also explores self-management techniques and building effective teams to ensure successful transitions. Ultimately, the material advocates for a proactive, relationship-focused approach to leadership transitions for improved organizational outcomes.


Avoiding Common Pitfalls

New leaders often fall prey to common mistakes, including:

  • Sticking to familiar practices: Resisting change and relying solely on past experience can limit adaptability and effectiveness.
  • Acting impulsively: The urge to make immediate changes without proper assessment can lead to unintended consequences.
  • Setting unrealistic expectations: Aligning goals with organizational realities and stakeholders is crucial for success.

    • The Virtuous Cycle of Success

    Watkins advocates for a "virtuous cycle" of activities that contribute to leadership success:

    • Securing early wins
    • Building supportive alliances
    • Earning credibility
    • Making informed decisions
    • Focusing on effective learning and relationship building

      • The 9-Step System for Transition Success

      The book outlines a comprehensive 9-step system for ensuring successful transitions:

      1. Prepare yourself: Leave the past behind, embrace the new role, and proactively learn about the new position.
      2. Accelerate your learning: Develop a structured learning plan, leverage diverse sources of information, and focus on actionable insights.
      3. Match your strategy to the situation: Utilize the STARS model to analyze the specific change situation (startup, turnaround, accelerated growth, realignment, or sustaining success) and tailor your approach accordingly.
      4. Secure early wins: Focus on achieving quick wins that matter to the boss and stakeholders, building momentum and credibility.
      5. Negotiate success: Establish a strong relationship with the boss, clarifying expectations, and securing necessary resources.
      6. Achieve alignment: Align organizational structure, processes, and skills with the strategic direction.
      7. Build your dream team: Assess, evolve, and align your team to support the organizational objectives.
      8. Create alliances: Build a network of influence and support beyond your direct reports.
      9. Manage yourself: Prioritize self-management, establish personal disciplines, and build robust support systems.

        10. Accelerating Everyone

        The 90-day framework extends beyond individual transitions. Organizations should implement systems and tools to accelerate transitions at all levels, fostering a culture of agility and performance improvement.

        Key Takeaways

        "The First 90 Days" provides a valuable roadmap for navigating leadership transitions. By understanding the criticality of this period, avoiding common pitfalls, and implementing the outlined strategies, new leaders can increase their chances of success and make a significant impact within their organizations.


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        The Smart SpinBy lazybutt