I am regularly contacted by readers who praise the first edition as their companion guide for how to tackle the step up to a leadership role. Interestingly, many readers shared with me that they also use the book to help prepare for a potential promotion. It has become quite standard for interview boards to ask candidates, to propose what they would do in the first 100 days of a new role appointment. My book offers an ideal template and structure for this scenario as well.

It is nearly ten years since I wrote the first edition. It is only right to refresh the offering and update it for an increasingly complicated world that needs its leaders to perform better than ever before. The appointed leaders of today require more emotional resilience to cope with the constant shocks and disruptions that are now a regular feature of corporate life. Leaders today face a more unpredictable and uncertain future but also have what appear to be limitless opportunities to re-imagine their business model and approach by taking advantage of the affordability of new technologies and artificial intelligence.

One aspect has not changed – when tasked with a new leadership appointment, you always need to hit the ground running and that still starts with having a great first 100 days in role.

This book is a culmination of all my years of specialist first 100 days knowledge and experience, packaged in a way to support you through the real-time experience of your journey. See the book as your coaching resource as you face the excitement and challenge of a new role. Nothing has been held back in terms of what I know and would want to offer to my consulting clients.

In 2013 I wrote a book on the specific topic of ‘Leading Your Team in the First 100 days’ and I have integrated some very useful nuggets from that book into this second edition. I also pay particular attention to the skill of emotional resilience and how to stay calm in the face of overwhelming information and stakeholder expectations. There is probably nothing that surprises me any more in terms of some of the tricky scenarios my clients have to deal with in the first 100 days. Patterns have emerged on common issues that clients think are only unique to them. In case you are grappling with any of the same, I address these in a new Executive Q&A section at each of the key milestone stages.

In the first 100 days, even more so than at any other time in the life cycle of a leadership appointment, all eyes are on you. It is a time of pressure and intense scrutiny. It is make or break time as to whether you lay down the right foundation for the rest of your first year and beyond.

I want to help you achieve success in your first 100 days, so that everybody benefits: you, your team, the organisation who hired or promoted you, and all the stakeholders.

If you feel overwhelmed by the task at hand, step back to get perspective. Let go of any fear. Lift yourself out of the detail and think about the bigger picture. Acknowledge that transitions are difficult, so be patient. Take on the role of learner: be open to the expert guidance and advice as you read this book. It was written with empathy, with you in mind.

Please enjoy reading this book. I hope you find it both strategic and pragmatic in its approach, with some good ideas and insights, grounded in the commercial reality of your situation.

Wishing you every success on your first 100 days journey!

Niamh O’Keeffe