Best Practices for the First 90 Days and Beyond

As more and more people change jobs these days, along with the accelerated pace of change, those early days in a new role are even more critical.

The purpose of this survey is to identify the most important actions, habits and processes to implement — as well as missteps to avoid — in order for leaders to set themselves and their teams up for maximum impact at the very beginning.

Thanks in advance for participating in this survey and joining our efforts to help leaders and their teams be the best they can be.

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* 1. To what extent is this statement true for you: This job is exactly what I signed up for.

Not even close

Not really what I signed up for

Partly yes and partly no

Nearly what I signed up for

Exactly what I signed up for

Not even close

Not really what I signed up for

Partly yes and partly no

Nearly what I signed up for

Exactly what I signed up for

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* 2. Comparing your perceptions before starting your role to now, how close was your assessment of the following?

	Completely off the mark	Not that close	Somewhere in the middle	Pretty close	Exactly accurate	N/A
Organizational culture	Organizational culture Completely off the mark	Organizational culture Not that close	Organizational culture Somewhere in the middle	Organizational culture Pretty close	Organizational culture Exactly accurate	Organizational culture N/A
The political landscape inside the organization	The political landscape inside the organization Completely off the mark	The political landscape inside the organization Not that close	The political landscape inside the organization Somewhere in the middle	The political landscape inside the organization Pretty close	The political landscape inside the organization Exactly accurate	The political landscape inside the organization N/A
The scope of your role	The scope of your role Completely off the mark	The scope of your role Not that close	The scope of your role Somewhere in the middle	The scope of your role Pretty close	The scope of your role Exactly accurate	The scope of your role N/A
Your team's capabilities	Your team's capabilities Completely off the mark	Your team's capabilities Not that close	Your team's capabilities Somewhere in the middle	Your team's capabilities Pretty close	Your team's capabilities Exactly accurate	Your team's capabilities N/A
Major gaps / opportunities to be addressed	Major gaps / opportunities to be addressed Completely off the mark	Major gaps / opportunities to be addressed Not that close	Major gaps / opportunities to be addressed Somewhere in the middle	Major gaps / opportunities to be addressed Pretty close	Major gaps / opportunities to be addressed Exactly accurate	Major gaps / opportunities to be addressed N/A

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* 3. Which of the following were most instrumental in your ability to achieve early successes? (Please check all that apply)

The clarity of your role as defined before you started

Expectations of your peers and other leaders regarding your remit

Organizational culture

Your team

The clarity of roles and responsibilities in your team

Alignment with peers

Alignment with other stakeholders

Having a coach or confidant with whom to share ideas and insights

Establishing measurable goals

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Which of the following proved to be obstacles to early successes: (Please check all that apply)

The lack of clarity of your role as defined before you started

Expectations of your peers and other leaders regarding your remit

Organizational culture

Your team

The lack of clarity of roles and responsibilities in your team

Conflicts with peers

Conflicts with other stakeholders

Not having a coach or confidant with whom to share ideas and insights

Absence of measurable goals

Other (please specify)

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* 5. What do you know now that you wish you knew in the first 90 days?

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* 6. To what extent is this statement true for you: I intend to be in this job or with this organization one year from now.

Not a chance

Probably not

50/50

Most likely

Absolutely

Not a chance

Probably not

50/50

Most likely

Absolutely

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* 7. How was your ability to adjust to your new role affected by pandemic conditions (e.g., remote or hybrid work)?

Extremely difficult

Harder than it would have been otherwise

No appreciable effect

Somewhat easier than it would have been otherwise

Much smoother

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* 8. Assuming pandemic conditions continue for the foreseeable future, what is one thing employers can do to set a new leadership hire up for success?

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* 9. What one suggestion do you have for anyone starting a new leadership role today?

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* 10. What is one thing your former employer could have done to keep you from leaving (or your leader / manager if you changed roles in the same organization)?

Increased my compensation

Formalized a permanent hybrid work format

Required us to return to the workplace

Accelerated my professional development plan

Promoted me

Provided me a coach or advisor

Nothing — it was the right time for a change