Why Teams Fail In The First 90 Days Of Transformation

LeadershipLeadership StrategiesWhy Teams Fail In The First 90 Days Of TransformationByC200,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. We are female leaders committed to advancing women in business.Follow AuthorApr 28, 2026, 10:02am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.The first 90 days is where the trajectory is set.Lalena Kennedy via CanvaBy C200 member Lin CoughlinWhen cross-functional transformations break down, it’s usually not months into execution. The first 90 days is where the trajectory is set—when teams begin moving quickly, decisions take shape, and patterns of working together start to form.In many organizations, this period is marked by momentum. Plans are in motion, teams are engaged, and leadership sees visible progress. At the same time, critical elements of execution are being established beneath that activity: how teams interpret priorities, how decisions are made across functions, and how ownership is understood. These choices shape how the work unfolds. When those foundations are not clearly defined, misalignment is built into the effort early and becomes increasingly difficult to correct as execution accelerates.Research from McKinsey shows that roughly 70% of transformation efforts fail, often due to execution challenges rather than strategy. Here are five things cross-functional teams most commonly get wrong in those first 90 days, and what it costs them:1. They Mistake Activity for AlignmentThe first 30 days of a transformation initiative often look productive. Kickoff decks are built and a steady cadence of meetings creates the impression that the work is moving forward. Leaders describe the team as energized and moving quickly.MORE FOR YOUBut activity can mask a more subtle problem. Each function begins interpreting the initiative’s goals through its own lens, and those interpretations are rarely compared. Engineering...