Onboarding Isn't Enough: Newly hired executives need to be fully integrated into the company's culture

The article identifies five tasks that new executives must perform in their critical first few months with a company. These are: assuming operational leadership and quickly solving urgent problems; taking charge of their management team and promptly confirm or adjust its composition and objectives; aligning with stakeholders by building relationships; engaging with the firm's culture; and defining strategic intent. Organizational support for new leadership has four levels: sink or swim, or minimal support; basic orientation, or sharing information regarding structure, policies, and strategy; active assimilation, or the transfer of deeper knowledge regarding the business, culture, and strategic priorities; and accelerated integration, or a customized experience that could involve team-building workshops.