The New Leader's 100-Day Action Plan, 5th Edition

CHAPTER 2The Job Starts When You Accept the Offer: Leverage the Fuzzy Front End.

WARNING!

If you have already started your new role, this chapter may upset you. It is full of ideas for people to implement before they start. The best way to take charge, build your team, and deliver better results faster than anyone thought possible is to create time by starting earlier than anyone thought you would.

Like it or not, a new leader's role begins as soon as that person is an acknowledged candidate for the job and certainly begins at the moment they accept. Everything new leaders do and say and don't do and don't say will send powerful signals, starting well before they even walk in the door on Day One.

This fuzzy front end between accepting and starting is a golden opportunity. Those taking advantage of that time do dramatically better in the early days of their new role. Those not taking advantage of that time tend to have much less pleasant experiences. The prescription is relatively simple. Take advantage of the time. Plan. Get set up. Invest in relationships, learning, and messaging. Listen.

Choose the Right Day to Be Day One

One subtle way of creating time is to take control of the start date. If there's flexibility—which is not always the case—you might negotiate a start date that allows a longer fuzzy front end and therefore more time for helpful activities before ...