The First 90 Days: Why Your Perfect Hire Is Already Thinking About Leaving
You know that feeling when you finally land that perfect hire?
The relief. The excitement. The possibilities.
Now here's the punch to the gut:
They're probably already questioning their decision.
The Brutal Truth
You spent months finding them.
Fought for budget to secure them.
Celebrated when they said yes.
Then what?
Chaotic first week
Unclear expectations
No structured plan
"Figure it out as you go" mentality
And you know it's not good enough.
But you're wearing seventeen hats,
Running a million miles an hour,
And onboarding feels like one more thing you can't handle.
The Real Cost
Let me share something that happened last year:
A (now) client lost three "perfect hires" in 90 days.
Not because they were bad hires.
Not because the company wasn't great.
But because no one owned their first 90 days.
Sound familiar?
The Numbers That Should Keep You Up
Here's what proper onboarding actually delivers:
82% better retention
70% higher productivity
86% of people deciding to stay long-term
But here's the real kicker:
They make this decision in the first six months.
While you're "too busy" to focus on onboarding.
While you're letting them "figure it out."
While you're running too fast to notice.
The Transformation
Here's what works:
Clear 30-60-90 day plans
Defined success metrics
Regular check-ins
Cultural integration roadmap
One of my clients implemented this.
Their retention jumped to 90%.
Their new hires hit targets 40% faster.
Their leaders stopped firefighting and started leading.
The Choice
You've already done the hard part.
You found the right person.
Don't let them slip away because of what happens next.
Your first 90 days will make or break your perfect hire.
Which outcome are you designing for?
Ready to turn your onboarding into your competitive advantage?
Let's talk about your Culture Reality Check.