I am a huge fan of the book The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins. I have read it many times and probably given away 100 copies to teammates. For my new role, I presented a 90 day framework to the people who were interviewing me and re-read the book the day before I landed in Canada to start. It is full of great practical advice and provides a framework to structure those first critical months.

As Watkins notes in the article Obama’s First 90 Days (HBR, June 2009):

Leadership is a momentum game – which is why there’s such incredible pressure on business executives in new roles to get it ‘just right’ in their first few months. The senior leader’s early actions end up having a disproportionate impact on everything that follows. Stakeholders parse every word, gesture, and decision, straining to discern intent and assess credibility. Feedback loops, both positive and negative, are established. Momentum for organizational change builds – or doesn’t.

Watkins’ review of Obama is very interesting. For all of us, my many American friends and the state of the global economy, I hope President Obama succeeds.