9 Things Smart Leaders Do in Their First 90 Days

The first ninety days in a new job are critical. Why? Because those first weeks and months will often set the tone for your future. To be truthful, there is nothing all that magical about the number 90. It just serves as a good starting point for being extra smart in the early days of your new position. So, here are 9 smart activities we have found to be vital in those early months.

1. Listen… a lot.

This means asking questions. Learning from others. And paying attention to what is said and what is not. A new leader who tries to make change too quickly without first listening is like a surgeon who starts cutting without being sure they are even solving the right problem. Remember these words from Steven Covey, “Seek first to understand…”

2. Discover the culture.

There are a lot of distractions when you enter a new position or organization. Different parking. Different office. Different rules. And new people. That’s a lot of change. But every organization has a story and a culture. How it got started. Critical events. Influential personalities. Spoken and unspoken rules. How people interact (or don’t). Smart leaders focus on discovering the uniqueness of the culture. 

3. Guard against trying to prove your worth.

Leaders are often hired and announced with great bravado. Such grandiose announcements can create an unintended pressure on a new leader to prove herself, to make herself known, and, ultimately, to prove that she is worthy of all the hype. This can be deadly professionally and unhealthy personally.

4. Watch for political positioning.

Soon after I was promoted to a senior level position in an organization where I was working, I remember a co-worker wanting to “have coffee” with me. Well, I never drink coffee, and he had previously never wanted to have such a meeting. He was positioning himself closer to me in order to attempt to gain some advantage. This will happen, so be aware.

5. Fill your credibility bank.

Most leaders start with a reasonable amount of credibility that comes with winning the position. But what you do (or don’t do) and how you do it in the early days will determine whether you are filling the bank or draining it. We have seen new leaders enter credibility bankruptcy in as little as one week! Some of the above points will help you in keeping your bank full in your first 90 days.

6. Build your guiding coalition.

Any wise and successful leader will identify others who are trustworthy, competent, and have good chemistry with him and place these people on his closest team. It is this guiding coalition that will often determine the ultimate success of the leader as well as the organization. And its creation often begins in those early days after you are hired.

7. Make changes – carefully.

Some people say you should make changes quickly after you are hired. Others say it is important to not make any major changes too soon. So, which is it? Well, it depends on the needs of the organization, the expectations of those who hired you, and the urgency of what the organization is facing. It may be essential that you make some changes quickly. You will discover if and when changes need to be made by paying attention to the principles noted above.

8. Spend time with those above you.

To thrive as a leader, you need to know for whom you work and what they expect from you. And you need to keep that relationship healthy, with the highest level of trust. This is not only true of new leaders, but of every leader. It may be the board chair, president, or supervisor. Regardless of who it is, you ignore this relationship to your own demise.

9. Ask for help.

One of the greatest dangers of a new leader is to feel that he must be the expert, the one with the answer. But that is a dangerous place to sit. In reality, the smartest leaders are those who humbly ask for input and advice rather than trying to prove themselves or live up to the unrealistic expectations of others. Remember the words from Proverbs 12:15, Fools are headstrong and do what they like; wise people take advice.

In reality, every leader would be wise to practice these 9 principles regardless of whether they are in a new position or not. If you are a leader about to enter into a new position or organization, give serious consideration to these guiding principles. And, if you are already in a position of leadership, you will also find benefit in living them out.

If you are a leader heading into a new position, or are simply a leader looking for counsel, contact us to learn how our experienced consultants can assist you in establishing your credibility, making changes, and creating momentum in your organization!

Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.