It's All About Day One.

Leaders find transitions into new roles the most challenging times in their professional lives, when they either build credibility and create momentum or stumble and sow doubts about their effectiveness. Much attention has therefore been given to how they should take charge in their early days-but far too little to how the organization should set them up for success from the start. Failure to announce appointments in the right way can undo all the work that went into the selection and hobble even the strongest leader from the start. When someone unexpected is chosen, the transition can set off an emotional storm. To avoid a bad start, the leader who made the selection, his or her HR partner, and the communications, investor relations, and legal professionals who advise them must provide good answers to four fundamental questions: (1) What message is this appointment meant to convey? (2) Why is this person the right one for the job? (3) Which members of the organization need to be informed? (4) What should they be told and when? INSETS: Advice for New Leaders;Recovering From Disaster;Recovering From Disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]