The first 90 days | Michael Watkins

Proven Strategies for Getting Up

to Speed Faster and Smarter

Preparing yourself means letting go of the past and embracing the imperatives of the new situation to give yourself a running start.

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Fulfilling new year´s resolutions… this year I promised myself to read more books in English. Somehow, I’m achieving the goal, my times are improving.

This book for me is a rereading and as I always say the books have the perfect time for us.

I saw a lot of bad comments about this book, but I think it was good to know new concepts as STARS Model and to remind me some aspects that everyone needs when they are facing new challenges as a new position, change of company, etc. None of these changes are easy to anybody so we must always continue learning about how we can face them. And this book is a recommend tool.

The only way to grow is getting out of our comfort zone.

And this is the first time that I write on my blog in English 😊 by the way. You will see more posts in the coming months in this language.

The book is divided in 10 chapters, and on each one of them you will find a lot of information that also you can put on practice very easy.

1. Prepare yourself

The importance of the first 90 days to do an extraordinary performance to achieve goals in the medium and long term.

Some importante ideas:

• Be sure to check and recheck expectations once you formally join your new organization.

• Focus, too, on understanding the operating model, planning and performance evaluations systems, and talent management systems, because they often powerfully influence how you can most effectively have an impact.

• Take time to celebrate your move, even informally, with family and friends.

• Your preferences have probably influenced you to choose jobs where you can do more of what you like to do.

2. Accelerate Your Learning

In this Chapter the most important thing that I learned was the importance of asking the correct questions about the past, the present and of course the future.

• The more efficiently and effectively you learn, the more quickly you will close your window of vulnerability.

• Efficient learning means identifying the best available sources of insight and then figuring out how to extract maximum insight with the least possible outlay of time.
  

3. Match Strategy to Situation

This was the most important part of the book for me… because it explains the use of the STARS Model:

• Start-Up

• Turnaround

• Accelerated growth

• Realignment

• Sustaining Success

So, this was one of my favorite’s chapters and if you need to pick one chapter to read, I think it SHOULD be this ONE. I also believe that it’s very important to work on the strategies but always find the way to put the WORDS in ACTIONS. Yes, to be in the FIELD.

4. Negotiate Success

Some people say that everything that we have in life is the result of our negotiations.

Focusing on the Fundamentals

• Don’t stay away

• Don’t surprise your boss

• Don’t approach your boss only with problems

• Don’t run down your checklist

• Don’t expect your boss to change

• Clarify expectations early and often

• Take 100 percent responsibility for making the relationship work

• Negotiate time lines for diagnosis and action planning

Also, you find the Five conversations that you should have.

5. Secure Early Wins

To the greatest extent possible, your early wins should advance longer-terms goals.

Here it’s crucial to Build Credibility, take in consideration these characteristics:

• Demanding but able to be satisfied

• Accessible but not too familiar

• Decisive but judicious

• Focused but flexible

• Active without causing commotion

• Willing to make tough calls but humane

Also, the FOGLAMP project checklist, is acronym for focus, oversight, goals, leadership, abilities, means and process.

“Secure early wins. Early wins build your credibility and create momentum.”

The topics of the next 5 chapters are: Achieve Alignment, Build Your Team, Create Alliances, Manage Yourself, Accelerate Everyone. So, you can imagine the kind of content, all of them are very focused in the relationships and of course the networking that you need to have to success in new position.

“Remember: simply displaying a genuine desire to learn and understand translates into increased credibility and influence.”

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