leadership-transition

Overview

Based on "The First 90 Days" by Michael Watkins. The core insight: new leaders fail not because they lack skill, but because they act before they understand. The biggest mistake is importing solutions from your previous role. The 90-day framework forces a learning phase before a doing phase, which feels slow but is faster overall. Watkins' research shows leaders who follow a structured 90-day plan reach the "break-even point" (where they contribute more than they consume) twice as fast as those who improvise.

The 30/60/90 Framework

Days 1-30: Listen and Learn
  - Understand the business, team, and context
  - Build relationships before making changes
  - Do not announce strategy or restructure anything

Days 31-60: Diagnose and Plan
  - Identify the 3-5 highest-leverage opportunities
  - Test hypotheses with the team
  - Make small early wins visible