Something we've been talking with clients about for a while, is now showing up in the data. Leaders are struggling to make it past the two-year mark. These leaders don’t lack talent or drive – it is because the conditions for early success have changed fundamentally. Boards have less patience. Stakeholders form opinions faster. And the pressure to act — before you've had the chance to really listen — is more intense than ever.

 

The numbers are sobering. Research consistently shows that roughly 40% of externally hired executives fail within their first 18 months. McKinsey has tracked executive transitions for years and found that anywhere from 27% to 46% are ultimately deemed failures or major disappointments by their boards. CEOs aren't just being pushed out for missing financial targets, either — boards are increasingly moving on leaders who lack the strategic clarity to navigate AI integration, workforce disruption, and rapid environmental change. Good results yesterday aren't protecting leaders from questions about tomorrow.

 

We've seen this up close, and it's why we built the First 90 Days Playbook. Everything we do in our executive coaching, assimilation and leadership development work - including activities like stakeholder mapping, listen-and-learn frameworks, early win strategy, and environmental scanning — has been packed into one resource. What our clients have spent tens of thousands of dollars building is now in one place, structured for any leader stepping into a new role. If you know someone in transition, or if your organization is about to put someone new in a leadership seat, this is the tool we'd hand them on day one.

One of our favorite pieces of the playbook is the checklist we give leaders for identifying quick wins. The temptation in a new role is to go after what's easiest to fix, or what makes you look decisive. But the research — and our experience — points the other way. The best early wins are collective: they make your team look good, they address something stakeholders have already flagged as frustrating, and they're within your authority to deliver without requiring major buy-in first. Three wins delivered with that filter beat ten promises every time.

→ Read the Article
 

This episode features organizational experts Brene Brown and Adam Grant discussing why successful leadership transitions require letting go of the urge to have all the answers, leaning instead into deep listening and the daily practice of intentional, courageous alignment.

→ Listen to the Podcast

 

→ Read the Article

Leading in Change launched this summer, and we are so glad you're here for it. If you haven't listened yet, the latest episode is a great place to start. And if it's landing for you — please like, subscribe, and leave a review. It matters more than you know.

In July, Gloria led a group of new leaders through Essentials Lab where they learned and practiced leadership skills like self-awareness, professional presence, driving accountability and getting results through others. Registration is open for our next Essentials Lab in November. See the details below. 

Melissa facilitated a workshop on Communication and Behavioral Preferences using Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and a session on moving from doer to leader at Shintech's Supervisor Summit. This event brought together leaders from all areas of the facility to invest in their leadership skills, hear updates from the VP of Manufacturing Canny Cedotal (pictured), and engage in professional development. 

 

Success Labs Partner Adrian Owen Jones facilitated the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation Nonprofit Leaders' Fellowship — a hands-on intensive for nonprofit leaders working hard on the good stuff: vision, culture, succession, and how to lead well without burning out. We're proud to support nonprofit leaders across Baton Rouge doing this important work.

Are your frontline supervisors still doing the job instead of leading the people that should be doing it? The leap from individual contributor to leader is one of the hardest transitions in any organization — and most people make it without any real preparation. The Essentials Lab is built for exactly that moment.

 

📋 Essentials Lab
For new supervisors, team leads, and “step-up” employees preparing for future leadership roles by learning the essentials.

 

📣 Accelerator Lab
For leaders looking to accelerate their career by developing the people skills to inspire teams, manage relationships, and drive results.

 

📈 Strategy Lab
For experienced leaders and seasoned professionals looking to elevate their strategic thinking, decision making, and ability to inspire teams in today’s fast-paced, complex environment.

 

That’s it for now. If this landed, forward it to someone navigating the same questions. And if there’s a challenge you’re sitting with right now — hit reply. We’d love to hear what’s on your mind.

 

— Adrian and the rest of the Success Labs team