Michael Watkins, The First 90 Days

There are very few books I find myself endlessly recommending to others. One of them is Michael Watkin’s The First 90 Days. It does a fabulous job at addressing that real and pressing challenge: How do you flourish in your first days in a new job or role, knowing that those first 90 days will make or break your longer-term success?

Michael’s been both an academic and a practitioner, so he brings both heart and hands into this interview. We talk about:

• The aHa! moment when it became clear that the challenge of transitions would be Michael’s own ‘Great Work’
• The power of focus, and what number is “too many” for your A-list of priorities
• A simple but powerful tactic to stay ‘on task’ once you’ve defined your priorities
• The danger of the comfort zone – and the role of delegation in making a difference
• What “improv” has to do with success.

You can learn more about Michael Watkins’ work on his website, Genesis Advisers.

Listen to my interview with Michael Watkins

0:16    Michael introduces Michael Watkins
0:31    Michael Watkins’ books The First 90 Days and Your Next Move: The Leader’s Guide to Navigating Major Career Transitions
4:08    The aHa! moment when it became clear that the challenge of transitions would be Michael’s own ‘Great Work’
6:30    The power of focus, and what number is “too many” for your A-list of priorities
8:17    A simple but powerful tactic to stay ‘on task’ once you’ve defined your priorities
10:42    The danger of the comfort zone – and the role of delegation in making a difference
24:18    What “improv” has to do with success.
26:24    How to learn more about Michael Watkins
27:09    Michael closes the interview

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5. The days are long. The years are short