“Your First 90 Days in a New Role”
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Title: The First 90 Days
Author: Michael D. Watkins
Category: Personal Growth, Leadership & Team Building, Business Strategy, Learning & Education
Starting a new job is terrifying. Sam and Sophie open with that fear, and then consider the typical instinct: trying to impress everyone with what you already know. That instinct, Michael Watkins argues, is the trap that makes transitions go sideways.
They walk through the STARS model for diagnosing your situation — Startup, Turnaround, Accelerated Growth, Realignment, Sustaining Success — and why misreading your context can wreck your first quarter. Then they cover early wins, negotiating success with your boss, mapping informal networks, and assessing the team you inherit.
If you're starting a new job, getting promoted, or onboarding anyone into a role, this episode gives you a concrete sequence: diagnose before you prescribe, build momentum with small victories, and build your vision through dialogue. The takeaway: a transition isn't a grace period — it's a test.
The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins is the field guide. For the full written summary, the whole library is on 7minutebooks.com/app — over 6,000+ fiction and nonfiction titles, read or listen in any language, plus infographics. Unlimited access is $2.99 a month, $9.99 a year, or $19.99 lifetime.
Chapters
00:00The Transition Trap and STARS01:37Securing Early Wins02:25Negotiating with Your Boss03:11Network, Learning, and Team Assessment04:53Vision and the Final Takeaway
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