New pharma commercial leader? Why your summer "onboarding" might just be your secret weapon for Q4 domination

Congratulations on your new role! While others might see summer as a slow season, at Echelon, we've found it's the perfect time for new leaders to set the stage for year-end success. 

Here's your Summer Onboarding Playbook:

1. Strategy Deep Dive

• Use the quieter period to thoroughly analyze team performance

• Leverage our CoachAlytics platform for objective insights into coaching quality and rep capabilities

• STAR Boost: Data-driven assessments lead to faster time-to-impact

1. Tenacity in Relationship Building

• Schedule informal 1:1s with team members - summer's relaxed vibe is perfect for building trust

• Use our BASICS model to structure these conversations for maximum insight

• STAR Boost: Prioritizing relationship-building leads to higher team engagement scores

1. Adaptability in Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Use downtime to build strong relationships with medical affairs, market access, and marketing teams

• Practice the 'Strategy' element of our STAR model to identify key collaborators

• STAR Boost: Strong cross-functional ties help achieve goals faster in Q3/Q4

1. Readiness through Strategic Planning

• Use this time to reassess and refine H2 strategy

• Leverage our STAR model to ensure your plan addresses Strategy, Tenacity, Adaptability, and Readiness

• STAR Boost: Teams with clearly defined H2 strategies often outperform peers in Q4

1. Strategy for Skill Enhancement

• Identify key skill gaps and implement focused training during slower periods

• Use CoachAlytics to track improvement and adjust your approach in real-time

• STAR Boost: Summer upskilling can lead to higher win rates in H2

1. Tenacity in Access Planning

• Work with your team to innovate on HCP access strategies for the challenging summer months

• Apply the 'Tenacity' component of STAR to overcome access barriers

• STAR Boost: Summer-specific access strategies can maintain higher engagement rates

1. Adaptability for Q4 Preparation

• Use this time to set clear expectations and goals for the critical Q4 period

• Align individual objectives with your refined H2 strategy

• STAR Boost: Clear Q4 roadmaps help teams achieve more of their year-end targets

Remember, your summer onboarding isn't just about getting up to speed - it's about setting the pace for the rest of the year. At Echelon, we've seen new leaders who maximize this period achieve full productivity much faster than their peers.

Fellow commercial leaders, what onboarding best practices would you add to this list? Share your insights below!

#NewLeader #SummerOnboarding #PharmaSales #LeadershipStrategy #STARmodel

Ready to turn your summer onboarding into a launchpad for year-end success? Book a free strategy session with Echelon to learn how our STAR model and CoachAlytics platform can accelerate your impact in your new role.