The First 100 Days: Why Leaders Need a Coach

Nov 11, 2025

Every organisation understands the importance of appointing the right leader. Executive searches are rigorous, costly, and deliberately exhaustive – and rightly so. But as Debbie Goodman, CEO of Jack Hammer Global and seasoned leadership coach, highlights in her recent conversation with Advaita Naidoo, Africa MD at Jack Hammer, there’s a critical gap in the leadership lifecycle that many companies still overlook.

Finding the right leader is only half the work.
Ensuring they succeed once they arrive is the other half. And it’s often neglected.

Why Leadership Appointment and Development Must Work Together

As Advaita notes in the discussion, organisations instinctively know that selecting a leader and developing a leader are interconnected processes. Yet, few have truly unpacked why these two worlds must operate in tandem.

Debbie’s vantage point, straddling both executive search and leadership coaching, brings rare clarity to the issue: Companies invest significant resources in identifying top leadership talent, but frequently leave those leaders unsupported during the most vulnerable and high-pressure period of their tenure: their first 90 to 100 days.

This is the window when expectations are sky-high, context is limited, political nuances are invisible, and the pressure to “hit the ground running” is intense. For even the most experienced executives, this transition is far from seamless.

The Case for Leadership Coaching from Day One

Debbie draws a compelling parallel: elite athletes don’t perform at world-class levels without coaches. Why, then, do we expect executives, who are navigating complex teams, stakeholders, and strategic mandates, to thrive without structured support?

Coaching provides:

Mindset support during the uncertainty of early transition
Guidance on navigating organisational culture and people dynamics
A sounding board for high-stakes decisions
A stabilising force during the pressures of a new mandate

Leaders are expected to “know everything” from Day One, but the reality is that many arrive without the institutional knowledge needed to operate at full speed. Coaching accelerates their ability to understand the environment, build credibility, and gain traction quickly.

A Measurable Impact on Retention and Performance

Leadership transitions are notoriously bumpy. Without proper support, new executives are at higher risk of derailment, especially within the first year. Debbie notes that leaders who work with a coach during onboarding demonstrate:

Faster integration
Greater focus and resilience
Better navigation of the inevitable pressures that accompany senior roles
Increased long-term commitment to the organisation

While some organisations track retention data, the most consistent evidence comes from the leaders themselves: those who have worked with excellent coaches say the support was instrumental to their success.

In short: coaching is no longer a luxury, it’s a strategic lever for leader longevity and performance.

What This Means for HR Leaders and CEOs

Today’s leadership landscape is more complex than ever. Distributed teams, heightened expectations, rapid change cycles and rising psychological demands all put pressure on leaders from day one. Appointing exceptional talent is crucial – but ensuring they are equipped to thrive is what turns a good appointment into a great one.

For organisations committed to high performance, structured leadership coaching should be considered part of the appointment process, not an optional add-on.

The Key to Building Stronger Leadership Teams

For over two decades, Jack Hammer has led the way in identifying, appointing and supporting top executives across Africa and global markets. Our work doesn’t end at placement – we understand the full leadership lifecycle, and we partner with organisations to ensure their leaders deliver impact from day one. We offer leadership coaching through our leadership coaching platform, Virtual Coaching Partners, for all our placed candidates.

If you’re looking to appoint exceptional talent – and setting them up to succeed – connect with our executive search team today.