SPEAK LIKE A CEO What to Say (and Never Say) in Your First Week as a Leader
Oct 21, 2026
Navid Nazemian, executive transition advisor, author, coach, and former HR leader, explores why leaders stumble in new roles. He unpacks first-week communication traps, the phrases to avoid, listening before acting, and practical ways to build trust. The conversation also tackles gender gaps in transition support, AI’s impact on leadership, and aligning expectations with a new boss.
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Lead Your First Week With Humility And Curiosity
- Demonstrate humility, intent, excitement, and curiosity before discussing numbers or imposing changes.
- Ask employees what matters to them; signal that you are listening first, not arriving with predetermined answers.
Why Early Transformations Often Backfire
- New CEOs most often regret making major announcements before gathering enough information or earning trust.
- The strongest first-week message is steady and attentive: learn the organization before promising transformation.
Listen For Three Months Before Changing Course
- Listen broadly for roughly three to four months, then shift from collecting data to connecting patterns and choosing priorities.
- Act sooner only when evidence signals an imminent crisis, like a ship heading toward an iceberg.
