Navigating Leadership Transitions

Episode 180: Michael Watkins - The First 90 Days: How To Ensure Success In Your New Role

Dr. Michael Watkins is the author of Your Next Move: The Leader’s Guide to Navigating Major Career Transitions, and the international bestseller The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at all Levels, which The Economist called “the on-boarding bible.” With more than 750,000 copies sold in English, and translations in 27 languages, The First 90 Days has become the standard reference for leaders in transition. Recently The First 90 Days was named one of the best 100 business books of all time.

Drawing on the perfect combination of research and hand-on experience, he has spent the last two decades working with leaders – both corporate and public — as they transition to new roles, negotiate the future of their organizations, and craft their legacy as leaders.

Episode 180: Michael Watkins - The First 90 Days: How To Ensure Success In Your New Role

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The Learning Leader Show

“I help leaders and their teams make good career transitions."

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Common themes to sustain excellence:
  • Learning Agility - Not shy about learning, and they don't expect themselves to have all the answers
  • Diversity of Experience - Multiple functions, multiple companies
  • Delicate balance between humility and ego
• Jeff Immelt from GE is a good example
• Confidence vs. Ego -- Desire to achieve, but cannot create echo chambers.
• The First 90 Days -- Michael's world-wide best selling book on how to transition to a leadership role
• The Leadership Pipeline - Another book to help make the transition from individual contributor to management. It's a completely different skill set
• The toughest move/promotion is the very first one
• The common traps leaders fall in to -- Relying only on what they're good at. Must broaden skills. You have to be a force multiplier.
  • Common Issues and problems leaders run in to: "Coming in with the answer. Not building lateral relationships. Engaging on the wrong side of learning."
• Why you must re-learn how to learn
  • How is the culture different?
    • Politically
    • Technically
• Who is the "dream team?" The five people you must meet immediately upon taking a new role
• The importance of the boss and the role she plays in helping
• Momentum -- Creating early wins.  Why you must make this happen
  • Look for little irritants to remove
  • Secure a win by thinking differently
• Your first public address to the group -- Prepare, Prepare, Prepare. The first impression is vital
• How to prepare for a management (role) interview
• Why a "One Sheet" of your core beliefs is better than a 30-60-90 day plan

“You have to be a force multiplier. You can't be a super-rep."

Continue Learning:

• Michael's best selling book: The First 90 Days
• Follow Michael on Twitter: @MichaelDWatkins
• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community
• To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

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Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon

Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL

Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA

Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

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If you enjoyed hearing Michael Watkins on the show, please don’t hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me.

Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell

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