Your First 100 Days…
The job market is buoyant post Covid and many people are starting out on their new positions in Leadership without a clear pathway.
I have been reading and following the book “Your first 100 days” by Niamh O’Keefe. The book is practical with many top tips and ways of navigating your start.
She identifies the areas that you will be working on by creating heading as in the table below:-
| Person | Role | Organisation | Market |
| Transition Maker | Content Learner | Value Adder | Market Player |
| Unique contributor | Business Achiever | Relationship Builder | |
| Team Builder | Culture Navigator | ||
| Communications Provider |
You as a Person
This is a key transition it might be your first Leadership role, on workshops we often talk about the move from Driver to Passenger. The difference between being transactional to transformational. Write down the key Leadership skills you think you will need in order to develop.
As a new person to the company or team you are a unique contributor you have fresh eyes on the business and can suggest new ideas and innovative ways of working. Keep a journal so that you capture your thoughts.
Your Role
Starting a new role there will be content that you have to understand and learn, make a development plan.
Understand what targets you need to hit and focus very much on being a Business Achiever.
As a Team Builder create a high performing team, don’t be afraid to make changes.
Communications provider to your team and to stakeholders, create a communications map of who needs to be informed and how often.
Organisational focus
As a new Leader you are a Value adder in what you bring to the strategic direction of the company, ensure that you think big, do not get caught up at a micro level. Write down early on your vision for the direction of the whole business, do not limit your thinking.
Relationship builder, internally and externally, working networks and cultivating genuine trustworthy and meaningful connections.
Navigating a new culture is vital as this is the beating heart of any organisation. Think about ways you can enhance rather than alter straightaway.
On Market
Think about your competitors, how can you make an impact and prove that you are a Market player. Take time to conduct thorough research.
P lanning
With the headings map onto a table actions that you think you will achieve by when:-
| First Steps | By the end of 30 days | By the end of 60 days | By the end of 90 days |
“Begin with the end in mind” Stephen Covey the author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Start with a vision, your legacy, what do you want to be remembered for, project five to 10 years in the future. Dream big and focus on success, when writing your vision use the present tense, use clear, concise, jargon-free language. Infuse it with passion and make it inspiring and align it with your business values and goals. A vision statement should be concise, no longer than a sentence or two.
The book is filled with checklists and the story of a new leader running alongside the text. Practical workbook for a new leader to follow.
Please do get in touch if you would like a coach for your first 100 days bev@nuggetsoflearning.co.uk
