The First 90 Days in a New Leadership Role: Mistakes to Avoid and Moves That Matter

Stepping into a new leadership role through promotion, transition, or transformation is exciting but creates a sense of vulnerability. You want to make a strong impression, build credibility, and demonstrate value quickly. However, rushing in without a thoughtful approach can lead to missteps that are hard to unwind.

At KKM Leadership, we work with executives and emerging leaders every day who are navigating the “first 90.” How you show up in this window sets the tone for your influence, relationships, and strategic impact.

Use this as your tactical playbook, with four moves that matter and four common mistakes to avoid.

Four Moves That Matter

1. Listen Before You Lead

   Resist the urge to jump into fixing mode. Prioritize active listening in your first few weeks. Schedule structured conversations with key stakeholders. Ask open-ended questions:

   • What’s working?

   • What’s getting in the way?

   • What would success look like in the next six months?

     
     

You’ll learn more by listening than by asserting early opinions.

2. Clarify Expectations Up, Down, and Across

   Don’t assume alignment, create it. Meet with your manager, team, and peers to clarify what success looks like, how decisions are made, and how communication flows. Document what you hear and reflect it back. This builds trust and demonstrates intentionality.

   
   

3. Identify Early Wins That Matter to Others

   Choose one or two quick wins that are visible, values-aligned, and meaningful to your team or stakeholders. These should reinforce your leadership priorities, not just check boxes.

   
   

4. Co-Create a 90-Day Plan with Your Team

   Invite your direct reports into the process. Share your listening themes, outline initial priorities, and ask for input. This shared ownership increases buy-in and signals collaborative leadership from day one.

Four Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overrelying on Your Past Playbook

   What made you successful before may not be what’s needed now. This is a new context, a new culture, and likely, a new level of complexity. Adapt your leadership, don’t copy and paste it.

   
   

2. Moving Too Fast Without Building Trust

   Speed is tempting, especially when pressure is high. However, even the best strategies will stall if you haven’t earned relational trust. People must feel seen, heard, and understood before following you.

   
   

3. Ignoring the Informal Culture

   The formal org chart only tells part of the story. Pay close attention to how influence flows, decisions are made, and behaviors are rewarded or avoided. Culture eats strategy, especially in your first 90 days.

   
   

4. Trying to Do It Alone

   New leaders often feel they need to prove themselves without help. Don’t. Seek coaching, peer support, or a mentor as a sounding board. Strong leaders know when to ask for perspective.

Your First 90 Days Are About Positioning, Not Perfection

You don’t have to solve everything, but you do need to show up with intention, empathy, and clarity. Focus on learning, aligning, and laying the foundation for trust. The real magic happens in how you listen, think, and bring others along with you.

If you're about to step into a new role, or supporting someone who is, I'd love to help you build a customized 90-day plan rooted in Insight + Impact.

Let’s make the transition not just successful, but transformational.