Module 4/4 26 min
The first six months, and the final test
Step 1 / 2·Mistakes of months three to six
0/2 steps done
Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Recognise the mistakes of the month 3–6 phase
- Build a channel that brings you bad news
- Complete the final test
Learn ~10 min
Mistakes of months three to six
Guard against the most error-prone phase.
Three mistakes and how to guard against them
| Mistake | Prevention |
|---|---|
| Changing too many things at once now that you are settled | One major change per quarter. The team needs time for one change to become habit before the next arrives |
| Only hearing from the one or two people who are easy to talk to | Check who you have had a substantive conversation with this month — usually two people take most of the time |
| Dropping one-to-ones when busy | It is the first thing cut and the costliest. Shorten it to 15 minutes rather than cancelling |
Build the bad-news channel before you need it
People do not naturally bring bad news to a manager. The only way is to respond well the first few times — thank the person who told you, and focus on the fix rather than on who is at fault. One sharp reaction closes that channel for months.