Quick Wins

Long-term success starts with immediate wins. Get crackin'

It’s hiring season.

Start of the second quarter. Decent first quarter. Good economic data in the news. And while there are still far too many talented folks on the sidelines these days, I have noticed, especially on LinkedIn, an uptick of people announcing new jobs.

Congratulations!

Now…

If you’re a new hire in a leadership role I have two questions for you:

Question one: Have you put together your “90-Day Plan?”

Question two: Where will you get your Quick Wins?

Question one is simple to answer. You either have a plan for your first 90 days or you don’t. And as a wise creative partner once told me me: “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”

Question two is worth exploring a little here.

You see, your first 90 days as a leader is critical to your future success.

It no doubt begins in “absorption mode.” In the first 90, you’re meeting people. You’re listening to their stories. Taking in their points of view. Hearing their complaints, their wishes and their advice for you.

In the first 90, you’re also learning the processes. You’re asking yourself: “How exactly does work get done in this place?!” And…"How the heck do we make any money?!”

In your first 90 days, you are also seeing what’s in the pipeline. And with any luck, there might be a thing or two that could be hit.

All of this listening and observing is feeding and informing your plan. (See above, I’m assuming you have a plan!)

It’s these two dynamics, listening and planning, that should be giving you the stuff to look for and create some “Quick Wins.”

What’s a Quick Win, then? A Quick Win is any pop of good news that can bring optimism and momentum to your team or the company.

As a new leader, you’re either charged with growing and sustaining current momentum — or more likely — you’re charged with turning something around.

To establish a new direction and to gain visibility, look for a Quick Win.

It can start with nothing more than an email of gratitude, saying what you appreciate about what you’re leaning. That’s a win.

You can continue, with highlighting whatever potential you see. This can be in a public way, or maybe it’s person by person. Talking up what’s good, that’s a win.

On the more challenging side of things, maybe there is a toxic person who is wreaking havoc on the rest of the team or the organization. Remove them and well, that’s a win, too. (Sorry, not all of leadership is rainbows and unicorns.)

And speaking of challenges, how about clients or customers? What can they tell you? I recall I went on a client tour my first 90 days when I was a CEO and I got hammered by some clients. I was read the riot act by a few in all the things we weren’t doing. It was tough to hear. But once I knew the problems, I could work with the team to fix them.

And reporting back to the frustrated clients and sharing plans — that was a win.

Then there’s your plan. Sure, there might be a big unveiling, but get some feedback along the way. Talk to your team and see what they think about certain elements. Get their take.

First, they will appreciate that they are included. And equally important, you’ll be getting crucial feedback on the plan. Win-win.

Finally, at the end of your first 90 days, you will have some momentum built-in and guess what? The unveiling of the plan is another win.

All of which is to say, your Quick Wins don’t need to be loud wins.

They simply need to be markers of momentum. (More on momentum here.)

All too often, a new leader is hired and then somehow disappears.

Your job (and especially your new job) is to set your team or enterprise on a course for success.

Let them know the Vision. And let the Quick Wins show that it is possible.

You have 90 days to get things mobilized in this new gig.

Tick, tock.

Chop-chop.

What’s a Quick Win you can find this week?

Image: LinkedIn