The New Leader’s 100-Day Action Plan

Entering a new leadership role? Leading a reorganization or integrating teams? Get better results faster by building and implementing your 100-Day Action Plan Your first 100 days in a new leadership position are critical, as they set the foundation for your team's success going forward. The New Leader's 100-Day Action Plan helps you start gaining traction even before your first day in a new job. The playbook gives you a concrete strategy for getting a fast start engaging the culture, setting direction, aligning the team, avoiding common missteps, and delivering results. This new fourth edition has been updated with new graphics and downloadable tools, and expanded with new information learned from real-world clients over the past twelve years. Many organizations, regardless of size, industry, or geography, realize that it is strategically imperative to effectively onboard leaders into new roles and combine teams during M&A and reorganization. New thinking for new teams provides ways to get quick results with key business initiatives, and new discussions on cultural fit and evolution to help you better contribute to your organization's success. Updated stories and case studies provide real-life glimpses at how successful leaders navigate tricky situations, and extensive online tools point you toward additional resources as the need arises. 40 percent of new leaders fail within the first eighteen months on the job. When a new leader drops the ball, it's at the expense of the team, the organization, and the leader's track record. Successful leaders start leading and delivering immediately. This book shows you how to start getting results right away and dramatically increase your chances for success by systematically shaping your leadership with intent. Take control from the start Expect the surprises and avoid the mistakes Manage your message and shape culture Set direction and build an aligned leadership team Fuel momentum and deliver results Your new leadership role begins the moment you accept the offer, the deal is done, or the re-organization is announced. The New Leader's 100-Day Action Plan gives you a concrete framework for successful leadership and a clear roadmap to the critical first 100 days.

Entering a new leadership role? Leading a reorganization or integrating teams?Get better results faster by building and implementing your 100-Day Action PlanYour first 100 days in a new leadership position are critical, as they set the foundation for your team's success going forward. The New Leader's 100-Day Action Plan helps you start gaining traction even before your first day in a new job. The playbook gives you a concrete strategy for getting a fast start--engaging the culture, setting direction, aligning the team, avoiding common missteps, and delivering results. This new fourth edition has been updated with new graphics and downloadable tools, and expanded with new information learned from real-world clients over the past twelve years.Many organizations, regardless of size, industry, or geography, realize that it is strategically imperative to effectively onboard leaders into new roles and combine teams during M&A and reorganization. New thinking for new teams provides ways to get quick results with key business initiatives, and new discussions on cultural fit and evolution to help you better contribute to your organization's success. Updated stories and case studies provide real-life glimpses at how successful leaders navigate tricky situations, and extensive online tools point you toward additional resources as the need arises.40 percent of new leaders fail within the first eighteen months on the job. When a new leader drops the ball, it's at the expense of the team, the organization, and the leader's track record. Successful leaders start leading and delivering immediately. This book shows you how to start getting results right away and dramatically increase your chances for success--by systematically shaping your leadership with intent.* Take control from the start* Expect the surprises and avoid the mistakes* Manage your message and shape culture* Set direction and build an aligned leadership team* Fuel momentum and deliver resultsYour new leadership role begins the moment you accept the offer, the deal is done, or the re-organization is announced. The New Leader's 100-Day Action Plan gives you a concrete framework for successful leadership and a clear roadmap to the critical first 100 days.

Acknowledgments ixExecutive Summary xiCHAPTER 1 Position Yourself for Success: Get the Job. Make Sure It Is Right for You. Avoid Common Land Mines. 1Tools in the book (with downloadable copies on the web):1.1 BRAVE Culture Assessment/Preference 231.2 Risk Assessment 251.3 5Cs Situation Analysis 271.4 SWOT 29CHAPTER 2 Leverage the Fuzzy Front End: Jump-Start Relationships. Listen, Learn, and Plan Before Day One. 31Tools in the book (with downloadable copies on the web):2.1 100-Day Plan Worksheet 542.2 Context Assessment 572.3 ACES Context/Culture Map 592.4 Communication Planning 602.5 Onboarding Conversation Framework 622.6 Personal Set-Up/Relocation 632.7 Office Set-Up 662.8 Leadership Team Role Sort (for merging teams) 682.9 Leadership Team Prestart Alignment Session (for merging teams) 692.10 Announcement Cascade 71CHAPTER 3 Take Control of Day One: Make a Powerful First Impression. Confirm Your Entry Message. 73Tools in the book (with downloadable copies on the web):3.1 Day One Checklist 873.2 New Leader Assimilation Session 893.3 New Owner Assimilation Session (for an acquisition) 91CHAPTER 4 Activate Ongoing Communication: Establish Leadership and Begin Cultural Transformation. 93Tools in the book (with downloadable copies on the web):4.1 Communication Guide 104CHAPTER 5 Pivot to Strategy: Co-Create the Burning Imperative by Day 30. 105Tools in the book (with downloadable copies on the web):5.1 Burning Imperative Workshop 118CHAPTER 6 Drive Operational Accountability: Embed Milestones by Day 45 and Early Wins by Day 60. 121Tools in the book (with downloadable copies on the web):6.1 Milestone Management 1416.2 Team Charter/Early Win Tool (for subteams) 1436.3 Problem Solving 144CHAPTER 7 Strengthen the Organization: Get the Right Team in Place by Day 70. 147Tools in the book (with downloadable copies on the web):7.1 Role Sort 1687.2 Recruiting Brief 169CHAPTER 8 Keep Building: Evolve Your Leadership, Practices, and Culture to Deliver Results. 171Tools in the book (with downloadable copies on the web):8.1 Quarterly Reviews 1868.2 Internal Communications 1878.3 Program Management 1898.4 Coaching and Support 1908.5 100-Hour Plan for Crisis Management 191References and Further Reading 195About the Authors 197Index 199