The First 90 Days – Leadership Framework for Success

Stepping into leadership is both exciting and challenging. You want to prove yourself, gain trust, and make an impact—but you also don’t want to move too fast and make mistakes. That’s why today’s episode is all about a structured approach to leadership transitions—what experts say works and how you can apply it to your own journey.

This episode is part one of a two-part series. Today, we’ll cover the First 90 Days as a leader framework, a structured roadmap for stepping into leadership. In the next episode, I’ll share my personal experience—the mistakes, the lessons, and what I wish I had known.

So, grab a coffee and let’s dive in!

Promote Yourself – Mentally Step Into the Role

One of the biggest mistakes new leaders make is trying to succeed by doing what worked in their previous role. But here’s the truth: what got you here won’t get you there.

Your responsibilities have changed. Some of your priorities have shifted. Your mindset needs to change too.

How to do this:

• Establish a clear breakpoint—mentally picture yourself in this new role. What’s different? What do you need to let go of?
• Set a timeline for when you will fully transition into leadership. It’s not just about day one—it’s about shifting your mindset and behaviors over the first few months.
• Use the time before you officially start to prepare: learn about the organization, department, and key players.

✅ Pro tip: Identify one or two skills you need to work on immediately—whether it’s public speaking, decision-making, or delegation. Be proactive in addressing these gaps.

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Accelerate Your Learning – Become a Knowledge Sponge

In your first 90 days as a leader, your job isn’t to prove yourself—it’s to learn.

Before making any big decisions, you need to understand why things are the way they are. This means learning about both hard facts (metrics, processes) and soft factors (culture, team dynamics).

How to do this:

• Define a learning agenda—what do you most need to learn?
• Ask great questions: Why are things done this way? What challenges are we facing? What’s working well?
• Identify key sources of information—talk to your boss, peers, and team members to gather insights.
• Develop a learning plan—break it into phases: what you need to learn before you start, within your first month, and by day 90.

✅ Pro tip: Be an active listener. Take notes, connect the dots, and don’t assume you already know the best way forward.

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Match Strategy to Situation – Know What You’re Walking Into

Not all leadership transitions are the same. Depending on the situation, your approach should be different.

The First 90 Days framework outlines four types of leadership transitions (STARS model):

• Startup – You’re building something new from scratch.
• Turnaround – You’re fixing something broken.
• Realignment – You’re changing a functioning but misaligned team.
• Sustaining Success – You’re maintaining a high-performing team.

Why this matters:

• If you’re in a turnaround, you’ll need to move fast and make tough calls.
• If you’re in a sustaining success situation, your approach will be more about evolution, not revolution.
• If you don’t match your strategy to your situation, you risk failure.

✅ Pro tip: Assess your situation before you start making changes. Are you here to fix, build, or refine? Your strategy should reflect that.

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Secure Early Wins – Build Momentum and Credibility

In your first 90 days as a leader, your credibility is everything. Early wins prove that you can deliver results and get people excited about the future.

But not all wins are created equal. Some new leaders make mistakes by:

• Trying to change everything too quickly.
• Not aligning early wins with what matters to their boss.
• Ignoring company culture and alienating the team.

How to get early wins:

• Focus on small but visible improvements that align with company priorities.
• Deliver value in areas that are important to your boss and peers.
• Be strategic—early wins should set the stage for long-term success, not just quick fixes.

✅ Pro tip: Success is not just about what you achieve, but how you achieve it. Make sure your early wins build trust, not friction.

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Build Alliances and Negotiate Success

No leader succeeds alone. In your first 90 Days as a leader you need support from your boss, peers, and team.

Your boss:

• Set clear expectations early. Align on what success looks like.
• Avoid surprises—keep communication open.
• Get to know the people your boss listens to and respects.

Your team:

• Build relationships fast. Understand their strengths, weaknesses, and concerns.
• Don’t rush to make changes before you understand team dynamics.
• If changes are needed, communicate the why clearly.

Your peers:

• Leadership isn’t just about managing downward. Your relationships with peer managers matter.
• Influence and collaboration will be key to long-term success.

✅ Pro tip: Start stakeholder interviews early. Ask key players: “What’s working? What’s not? What advice do you have for me?”

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Lessons Learned from This Coffee Journey

Your first 90 days in leadership will define your success. Be intentional, focus on relationships, and adapt to the reality of your role.

Key takeaways:

• Step fully into your new role – Let go of the past and own your leadership.
• Prioritize learning – The right questions will guide your strategy.
• Secure early wins – Build credibility with results that matter.
• Build your team and influence – Leadership is about people, not just strategy.
• Take care of yourself – Leadership is a long game.

If you’re stepping into a leadership role soon, I’d love to hear from you! What’s your biggest challenge or concern? Let’s connect in the comments or on social media.

And if you want to hear my personal experience stepping into leadership, check out my follow-up episode: My First 90 Days – What I Learned the Hard Way.

Thanks for reading, and as always—keep leading, keep learning, and keep growing.

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Useful links

• Your First Step to Engineering Leadership
• How Mentoring Can Inspire You to Become an Impactful Leader
• Leadership begins at home – strengthening relationships that matter the most