Step Up. Step In. Lead at 2× Speed.

The 90 day runway is gone. Leaders are now expected to make their mark in weeks, not months - resetting perceptions, building credibility and delivering impact in half the time.

The same applies to leadership. The old 90-day runway no longer exists. When you step into a new role or mandate, you’re judged in weeks, not months. Leaders who wait to “settle in” are left behind.

The Stakes Are Real

Up to 40% of new leaders fail within 18 months, often due to cultural mismatch, unclear expectations, or political blindspots (ProventusHR, 2025).
27–46% of leadership transitions fail within two years, most often due to organisational politics, cultural missteps, and lack of support (DIDI & ProventusHR, 2024).
Most leaders take six months or more to effectively assume their role — far too slow in a world that now expects instant traction (IMD, 2024).

If TikTok can compress music videos into 30 seconds, the business world has compressed leadership expectations into 30 days.

What Leaders Need to Do - To Accelerate

1. Reset Perceptions

A promotion doesn’t automatically change how others see you. Reset the rules of engagement early.

One-on-ones with peers and stakeholders: What should I know? How can we work best together?
Project confidence without arrogance.
Accept that trust builds over time, but signals of competence must come immediately.

2. Build Credibility Through Connection

Mandates stall without alliances. Credibility is built in corridors and coffees as much as in boardrooms.

Invest in peers, not just direct reports.
Use informal settings to establish trust.
Position yourself as a collaborator, not a competitor.

3. Read the Power Dynamics

Every leadership table has visible structures and invisible currents.

Identify who influences your boss, who others defer to, and where resistance will come from.
Observe how decisions are really made.
Move fast from learner → contributor → leader.

4. Set Boundaries with Respect

Colleagues will test you. Don’t flinch.

Be clear on what you will and won’t take on.
Frame boundaries in terms of what benefits the organisation, not personal pride.
Stay composed; tests of authority are part of the process.

The 15–30–45 Day Perform

Forget the 90-day plan. Leadership is now a 45-day audition.

Day 0–15: Reset perceptions. Secure clarity. Map influence.
Day 15–30: Deliver early wins. Build credibility. Assert your role.
Day 30–45: Showcase impact. Strengthen alliances. Scale your influence.

Like a TikTok scroll, judgment comes fast. Leaders who hesitate are swiped past.

Stepping up isn’t about the title. Stepping in isn’t about the project. Both are about activating leadership — at 2× speed.The evidence is clear: almost half of leadership transitions fail because expectations, alignment, and culture are left to chance. In today’s world, leaders don’t get 90 days. They get weeks.That’s where XOAM comes in.

_References

_{1. ProventusHR (2025). Destined to Break: 40% of New Leaders Fail Within the First 18 Months.
2. DIDI & ProventusHR (2024). Leadership Transition Report: Why 27–46% of Leaders Fail Within Two Years.
3. IMD (2024). Hit the Ground Running: Transitioning to New Leadership Roles.}

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