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What it argues
The First 90 Days is Michael Watkins's guide to leadership transitions — the critical period when a new leader either establishes the credibility, relationships, and early wins that set them up for long-term success, or falls into traps that undermine them for months or years. The book is based on research into why some leaders succeed and others fail in new roles, and is organized as a set of principles and practices for navigating the transition strategically rather than reactively.
Watkins argues that the vulnerabilities that sink new leaders are predictable. They come in too fast, making decisions before understanding the situation. They bring strategies that worked in previous roles without testing whether those strategies fit the new context. They build relationships narrowly, focusing on their direct team while neglecting lateral relationships. They fail to diagnose the type of situation they've inherited — whether it's a startup, a turnaround, an accelerated growth context, or a sustaining success — and apply the same approach regardless.
What it gets right
- 1.
Leadership transitions have predictable failure modes: moving too fast, importing strategies from previous roles, building relationships too narrowly, and misreading the type of situation you've inherited.
- 2.
The STARS framework identifies five transition contexts — Startup, Turnaround, Accelerated growth, Realignment, and Sustaining success — each requiring fundamentally different leadership approaches.
- 3.
Early wins are not just nice — they're strategically necessary. They establish credibility, build momentum, and demonstrate that you can deliver value in the new context.
What it covers
Who wrote it
Michael D. Watkins is a professor at IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, and co-founder of Genesis Advisers, a leadership development firm specializing in transitions. Before joining IMD, he taught at the Harvard Kennedy School and INSEAD. The First 90 Days has sold more than one million copies and is used by hundreds of major corporations to support executive onboarding. Watkins has also written The First 90 Days and Master Your Next Move, and consults with senior executives and companies undergoing major leadership changes.
