Recent studies show that attrition rates for outside hired executives are high. Some say between 30 and 50%, and many of these failures will occur within the first two years. The statistics are not much better for internally promoted leaders. The first 90 days of a new leader's tenure will often determine ultimate success or failure. Onboarding programs are prolific and helpful, but they are not designed to prepare new leaders to secure early successes while avoiding costly mistakes. Something else has to be done to reduce this alarming attrition rate. The author is a veteran executive recruiter and coach. He is Executive Vice President of Executive Integration Services for one of the world's top ranked executive search firms. He has placed leaders from director to public company CEO in the US, Asia and Europe. While an organization development executive in the Fortune 500, he developed and refined a New Leader Integration "pre-boarding" process that significantly compresses the time it takes for new leaders to be fully effective. An internal or external change management consultant oversees this process. The new leader arrives on the first day with a "blueprint for success" in hand and has been thoroughly briefed regarding the expectations of the boss, peers and direct reports. The outcome is a new leader who gets the right results quickly and sustains them over the long term. This book clearly defines a process for implementing a New leader Integration program in a variety of organizations. It is a process that is appropriate for leaders at all levels.
Michael Burroughs is a veteran executive recruiter and coach. His new book, Before Onboarding, outlines a proven process in the area of New Leader Integration. He is the ONLY executive recruiter who provides an "Executive Integration" process at the conclusion of a search. He also performs this service for organizations promoting leaders from within or sourcing them through their own staff recruiters.
Why is this important? Studies show that 40 to 50% of outside hired senior executives ultimately fail in their jobs. Internal promotees succeed at a higher rate (but not by much). Moreover, what happens in the first 90 days a new leader is on the job often determines his or her ultimate outcome.
Michael's process focuses on the first 90 days. New leaders are fully prepared to secure early wins; avoid costly, preventable mistakes; and sustain their early successes long term. His is a "pre-boarding", facilitator-led process. It begins when an offer is accepted and culminates 90 days after the start date. The new leader arrives on the first day with a "Blueprint for Success" that ensures the right things are done in the right order and in the right way during the first 90 days. He also provides the option of executive coaching through the new leader's first year.
Michael leads a team of executive recruiters at a "top five" global search firm who are specially trained to facilitate his process. He is also available to speak to groups large and small on the subject of new leader integration, or prepare internal professionals to conduct this innovative service for their own organizations. You can best reach Michael at mike@michaelkburroughs.com.
