The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, Updated and Expanded

I was recommended this book during a job interview and it’s been insightful as I go into my first 90 days of a new job. I have had a handful of transitions mostly within my career field but this book has given me new ways of viewing and managing the first 90 days of a new or existing job transition.

This book offers a clear, structured approach to navigating career transitions and setting yourself up for success in the first three months of a new role. I appreciated its practical frameworks and real-world examples, which make it easy to apply. Some parts can feel repetitive or corporate, but overall it’s a valuable guide for managers and professionals taking on new challenges. Highly recommended for anyone stepping into a leadership or high-impact position.

As a leader or potential leader up and coming new or past please read this. This little Gem is kore of a study guide, what to and what not to with scenarios as great examples. Beautifully written and greatly influential. There are guides and maps and come back to’s allowing you to create beautiful work habits and environments. Ot helps you shift your thinking from an individual contributor to a leader of contributors. It will help you in any and all stages of your leadership career

"The First 90 Days" has been an incredibly valuable resource for my teen son, who is the cadet commander at his Civil Air Patrol squadron. His mentor recommended it to help him navigate the early days of his leadership role, and it has made a big difference in how he approaches decision-making and team building. The book provides clear strategies that are easy to understand and implement, giving him the confidence to lead effectively from the start.

I've heard about this book from many people so I bought the updated version and its extremely helpful. It is the "bible" of transitioning to a new role. The general situation is either being hired or promoted to a very senior level or executive role where you have responsibilities for people, budgets and initiatives and have to set direction. The author provides step by step chapters on the different things you have to think about and what phases a transition plan will entail. There are excellent check lists, tables and exercises to help you plan out a successful transition. This includes analyzing yourself as well as your new firm as different situations will require different approaches and half the battle is know what situation you are in. It only took a few days to read including taking notes and doing some analysis. Its not a hard read but I recommend taking the time, bookmarking sections and referring back to them along your journey.

The book is written by a Harvard Business professor with acutal working knowledge of transitional business. In and of itself, that should be enough for any new leader to want to read this. The author, Michael Watkins, looks at how to make a good first impression with your leadership skills, how to set yourself up for success in any new role (whether transistional, promotional, start-up, or managing an already succesful group), and how to investigate what is actually required from you and your new team. Mr. Watkins' style of writing is a little dry, but he covers the subject material very well. He does not get off topic at any point, and uses very well written examples of each new skill - which anyone can translate to their own business career and then use to better understand that skill. For those being promoted to a new position, those who are new to management, or those being transferred to a different department (within their own business or outside to a new corporation) this is a must read.

I never realized how often I would refer to this book. Not just for planning to navigate my own first 90 days in an organization, but also to predict what others would do in theirs. A constant source of insight at arm's reach.

Starting a new job this year presented a great opportunity/challenge in resetting the way that I show up and contribute value to the workplace. The First 90 Days defines ten transition tasks to consider when joining a new organization or being promoted to a senior role in the current organization. Each task builds upon the last and provides relatable stories and actionable guidelines for each (presented at the end of each chapter as a checklist). I'm still working my way through to the 90-day mark, and have found this guide very helpful in ensuring my entry in the new environment is impactful. Quotes: - Transition failures happen because new leaders either misunderstand the essential demands of the situation or lack the skill and flexibility to adapt to them. - Strategic direction encompasses mission, vision, and strategy. Mission is about what will be achieved, vision is about why people should feel motivated to perform at a high level, and strategy is about how resources should be allocated and decisions made to accomplish the mission.

Amazing insights

The First 90 Days is an excellent and highly practical book. I found it particularly useful while I was in job search, because it helped me think clearly about how I would approach a new role before I had even started. The frameworks are practical, structured and easy to apply, and I used the book to create several compelling 90-day plans. It is especially valuable for leaders moving into a new organisation, a new level of responsibility, or a role where early credibility matters. This is not just a book about onboarding; it is a guide to building momentum, understanding the business, setting priorities and creating early impact. Highly recommended.

Great book everyone should read, if you want to get an understanding on the structure of onboarding at a new org.

Book quality is very good.

This book is a great guide for people who are starting a new job of switching roles in the same company. The chapters are well structured. There are no templates and this is appreciated as it boosts creativity and critical thinking. Definitely helped in building an effective 90-day plan.