The first 90 days set the tone for a new CEO’s tenure by shaping credibility, relationships, and strategic focus. Effective CEOs use this period to listen, learn, clarify expectations with the Board, and make a small number of visible, well sequenced moves rather than attempting to change everything at once.
Core priorities for a new CEO’s first 90 days
While each context is different, recurring priorities include:
- Clarify the mandate and expectations with the Board and key stakeholders, including pace of change and success metrics.
- Listen and learn through structured conversations with employees, customers, and partners to understand culture, history, and performance drivers.
- Assess the leadership team, including strengths, gaps, and alignment with the organization’s future direction.
- Define a small set of early priorities and quick wins that signal direction without overcommitting.
Governance and relationship building
New CEOs benefit from deliberately managing key relationships:
- Building a clear, transparent working relationship with the Board Chair and directors.
- Establishing trust with the executive leadership team through frequent communication, shared problem solving, and visible follow through.
- Understanding external stakeholder expectations, including investors, regulators, and key partners.
How coaching supports the first 90 days
Executive coaching during the first 90 days helps CEOs:
- Sort through competing priorities and decide what to take on immediately versus later phases.
- Reflect on feedback and adjust communication, decision making, and leadership style to the organization’s culture and context.
- Navigate high-stakes Board interactions and enterprise level decisions from the outset.
Brenda Bence’s work with new CEOs
Brenda Bence coaches CEO successors and newly appointed CEOs, to prepare them for their start date. Their work together continues not only through the first 90–180 days but often up to 18 months in the role. In these engagements, she works alongside Boards and CHROs to ensure the CEO is prepared for the realities of the role, with clear expectations, practical tools, and structured feedback from key stakeholders.
Client perspectives
“Our C-Suite Executive created followership with his senior team through coaching in his first months.”
– President, EMEA & India, of Global Medical devices and Healthcare Company
“Brenda helped me dial up my natural leadership style from day one.”
– President Market Development, Publicly-traded Media Agency
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