The First 90 Days in Government: Critical Success Strategies for New Public Managers at All Levels

More than 250,000 public sector managers in the United States take on new positions each year and many more aspire to leadership. Each will confront special challenges—from higher public profiles to a greater number of stakeholders to volatile political environments—that will make their transitions even more challenging than in the business world.

Now Michael Watkins, author of the bestselling book The First 90 Days, applies his proven leadership transition framework to the public sector. Watkins and coauthor Peter Daly address the crucial differences between the private and public sectors that go to the heart of how success and failure are defined, measured, and rewarded or penalized.

This concise, practical book provides a roadmap that will help new government leaders at all levels accelerate their transitions by overcoming nine transition challenges, ranging from clarifying expectations to defining goals to building a team to managing personal stress. The authors also offer detailed strategies for avoiding major “transition traps.”

Zeroing in on the challenges faced by new government leaders, The First 90 Days in Government is the indispensable guide for anyone seeking to lead and succeed in the public sector.

Peter Daly is a former federal executive agency head and Presidential Commission member. Michael D. Watkins is a Professor of Practice at INSEAD and founder of Genesis Advisers, a leadership and strategy consultancy. He is the author of the international bestseller The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels.