19 | Your First 90 Days: Building Camaraderie as a New Leader

Welcome back.

Today I want to talk to those of you who have just been hired or promoted into a leadership role. Maybe you just got the job. Maybe you're a few weeks in. And you're trying to figure out how to build camaraderie with a team that doesn't really know you yet.

Here's what you need to understand: just because you have the job and the title doesn't mean you automatically get camaraderie. No one knows you. No one is on mission with you yet. It's your job to build it.

And there's a specific path you should follow.

Start acting on Relationship, Starting Learning about Mission

Your first focus needs to be this: learn as much as you can about the mission and build relationship and rapport.

I know, I know. You probably have clarity on where you want to take the team. You probably even pitched that vision in the interview process. That's likely why you got the job! But when it comes to the people you'll actually be working with and leading, there's a level of relational trust you need to build first.

Don't come in immediately clarifying the mission and announcing where you're going. That's the fastest way to lose your team before you even get started.

Instead, spend time with people. Listen. Ask questions. Get to know who has gone before you and what's been built before you. Learn as much as you can.

Here's the ratio I'd encourage you to follow: if you spend one hour providing missional clarity, spend two hours building relationship.

Two to one. Relationship to mission.

Because starting with relationships will help you do something critical—it will help you identify three types of people on your team.

Three Types of People You'll Discover

First, you'll identify people you may need to let go of. Maybe they're not a culture fit. Maybe they're actively working against what you're trying to build. Maybe they've checked out. You won't know this on day one, but as you build relationship and really listen, it will become clear.

Second, you'll identify people who look like they're not adding value but really just need a shift in role. These are people who have potential but are in the wrong seat. Maybe they've been overlooked. Maybe they're being underutilized. As you build relationship and learn their strengths, you'll start to see where they could actually thrive.

Third, and this is the most important—you'll identify what I call "people of peace." These are the people who embrace relationship with you early on. They extend trust back to you. They prove through their actions that they're ready to get in the trenches and advance the mission. These are your key players. These are the people you're going to lean on as you move forward.

You can't identify any of these three types if you come in hot with your vision and start making changes immediately. You need the relational foundation first.

Then Lead with Clarity

Once you've built that foundation of relationship—and this might take 30, 60, maybe 90 days depending on the size and complexity of your team—then be the leader you were hired to be.

Paint the vision of where you're taking the team. Clarify the mission you're going on together. Make decisions. Set direction. Lead.

But now, when you do it, you have relational equity. People trust you because you've invested in them. They know you've listened. They know you understand the history and the people. And they're ready to follow you because you've proven you care about them, not just the mission.

The Path to Camaraderie

This is how you build camaraderie as a new leader. Not by coming in and asserting authority. Not by immediately casting vision. But by building relationship first, then leading with clarity.

Remember: two hours of relationship for every one hour of mission. That's the ratio that builds trust. That's the ratio that creates camaraderie.

If you're a new leader trying to navigate this and want to talk through your specific situation, click the chat button and reach out. I'd love to support you!

On that note, that's all for today. I'll see you soon!