The First 90 Days

Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter

By: Michael D. Watkins

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

The world’s most trusted guide for leaders in transition.

Transitions are a critical time for leaders. In fact, most agree that moving into a new role is the biggest challenge a manager will face. While transitions offer a chance to start fresh and make needed changes in an organization, they also place leaders in a position of acute vulnerability. Missteps made during the crucial first three months in a new role can jeopardize or even derail your success.

In this updated and expanded version of the international bestseller The First 90 Days, Michael D. Watkins offers proven strategies for conquering the challenges of transitions - no matter where you are in your career. Watkins, a noted expert on leadership transitions and adviser to senior leaders in all types of organizations, also addresses today’s increasingly demanding professional landscape, where managers face not only more frequent transitions but also steeper expectations once they step into their new jobs.

By walking you through every aspect of the transition scenario, Watkins identifies the most common pitfalls new leaders encounter and provides the tools and strategies you need to avoid them. You’ll learn how to secure critical early wins, an important first step in establishing yourself in your new role. Each chapter also includes checklists, practical tools, and self-assessments to help you assimilate key lessons and apply them to your own situation.

Whether you’re starting a new job, being promoted from within, embarking on an overseas assignment, or being tapped as CEO, how you manage your transition will determine whether you succeed or fail. Use this book as your trusted guide.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 Michael Watkins (P)2013 Gildan Media LLC

Excellent on boarding and training resource

Excellent on boarding and training resource. Bought the book too for the charts, lists, and instructional elements.

if only i knew not to buy this in audible

narration is fine, but i do wish that i were able to view the tables and exercise in the book. fomo.

Excellent Advice for whenever you start a new position

This is one of the classic books everyone should read before taking a new position. It helps to set yourself up for success and avoid typical mistakes that will hinder you in succeeding.

It is one of those books that is hard to translate into an audiobook

I listened to this whole book on audiobook, and now I’m going to go back and read the paper book. There are so many graphs and references to charts in the audiobook that it is a very boring book to listen to. That said, I think there is still a lot of valuable content here it just needs to be digested as a regular book

Great Guidebook for those in transition

Great review and reminder of how hard it is to transition to a new role and especially to that of another company.