The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels by Michael Watkins
As an academic leader and problem solver, transitioning into a new role or taking on a new challenge can be daunting. Michael Watkins’ book, “The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter,” offers invaluable insights that can be applied to the unique challenges faced by academics. The book outlines ten key principles for a successful transition, which can be adapted to the academic context.
- Prepare Yourself: Take the time to reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Assess your problem-solving preferences and consider how they align with the demands of your new role.
- Accelerate Your Learning: Define your learning agenda and identify the best sources of insight. Reach out to colleagues, mentors, and key stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
- Match Strategy to Situation: Use the STARS model (Start-up, Turnaround, Accelerated growth, Realignment, and Sustaining success) to accurately diagnose your situation and develop a tailored strategy that maximizes your impact.
- Negotiate Success: Clarify expectations with your superiors and stakeholders, and secure the resources and support you need to succeed.
- Secure Early Wins: Identify opportunities to create value and build momentum in your first 90 days. Focus on high-priority initiatives that align with your long-term goals.
- Achieve Alignment: Identify potential misalignments between strategy, structure, systems, and skills. Develop a plan to address these issues and ensure everyone is working towards the same objectives.
- Build Your Team: Assess your team’s strengths and weaknesses, and take steps to align and mobilize them around your goals.
- Create Alliances: Identify supporters, opponents, and persuadables, and develop strategies to win them over. Invest time and energy into building a robust network of allies.
- Manage Yourself: Prioritize self-care, set realistic expectations, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Develop personal disciplines and build a support system to stay focused on your goals.
- Accelerate Everyone: Help your team members accelerate their own transitions and develop their skills. Create a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Success and failure in the first 90 days often hinges on your ability to accurately diagnose your situation.
Michael Watkins
Applying these principles to the academic leader:
As an academic leader, you can apply these principles to navigate the unique challenges of your role. Start by preparing yourself mentally and emotionally for the transition, and take the time to assess your strengths and weaknesses. Accelerate your learning by reaching out to colleagues and mentors, and use the STARS model to develop a tailored strategy that aligns with your institution’s goals.
Negotiate success by clarifying expectations with your superiors and securing the resources you need to succeed. Focus on securing early wins that demonstrate your value and build momentum. Achieve alignment by identifying potential misalignments and developing a plan to address them.
Build a strong team by assessing your team members’ strengths and weaknesses, and take steps to align and mobilize them around your goals. Create alliances by identifying key stakeholders and developing strategies to win their support.
Finally, manage yourself by prioritizing self-care, setting realistic expectations, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Help your team members accelerate their own transitions and develop their skills, creating a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Action steps for the reader:
- Conduct a self-assessment: Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Consider how your problem-solving preferences align with the demands of your new role.
- Develop a learning agenda: Identify the key areas you need to learn about in your new role, and seek out the best sources of insight, such as colleagues, mentors, and key stakeholders.
- Diagnose your situation: Use the STARS model to accurately assess your situation and develop a tailored strategy that maximizes your impact.
- Clarify expectations: Have open and honest conversations with your superiors and stakeholders to clarify expectations and secure the resources and support you need to succeed.
- Identify early wins: Look for opportunities to create value and build momentum in your first 90 days. Focus on high-priority initiatives that align with your long-term goals.
- Address misalignments: Identify potential misalignments between strategy, structure, systems, and skills. Develop a plan to address these issues and ensure everyone is working towards the same objectives.
- Assess your team: Evaluate your team’s strengths and weaknesses, and take steps to align and mobilize them around your goals.
- Build alliances: Identify supporters, opponents, and persuadables, and develop strategies to win them over. Invest time and energy into building a robust network of allies.
- Prioritize self-care: Make time for self-care, set realistic expectations, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Develop personal disciplines and build a support system to stay focused on your goals.
- Foster a learning culture: Help your team members accelerate their own transitions and develop their skills. Create a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
By applying these principles and taking actionable steps, academic leaders and problem solvers can master the art of successful transitions, enhance their professional success, and contribute to their personal growth and well-being.
