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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Ratgeber
- Sprache: Englisch
Increase your impact in your next job and accelerate your career with straightforward and proven workplace techniques
In Navigate Your Career: Strategies for Success in New Roles and Promotions, career, organization, and leadership development expert Shveta Miglani delivers an original and exciting new guide to navigating your career. With anecdotes and real-life experiences from leaders at Amazon, the Boston Celtics, Mastercard and Adobe, the author walks you through seven key ways you can make your professional journey more rewarding and successful at every stage.
You'll find easy-to-implement advice you can use today to help you realize your work goals, including setting appropriate, realistic, and measurable goals to working with your organization's proprietary technology as a new hire. You'll discover how to learn about the business of your new company, understand your firm's culture, and how to meet your professional and personal development benchmarks.
Inside the book:
- How to develop and maintain a sense of authenticity in the workplace that allows you to thrive without pretense
- Strategies for navigating remote, on-site, and hybrid work roles, and how to handle the unique challenges that come with each type of position
- Ways to build strong relationships with people at your new job, including how to find the right mentors
Perfect for professionals stepping into a new role at a new company, Navigate Your Career: Strategies for Success in New Roles and Promotions is also a must-read book for every ambitious person—at any stage of their career—who wants to maximize the impact they have on their organization and make their professional lives more rewarding.
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Seitenzahl: 293
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
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Table of Contents
Cover
Table of Contents
Praise for
Navigate Your Career
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
A Fish in New Waters
How to Benefit from This Book
Introduction
Evolution of Work
Career Planning
Fitting in, the Meerkat Way
Be an Information Seeker
Traditional Rituals
The Grass Is Not Always Greener on the Other Side
Shift in Workplace Culture
Remote and Hybrid Work Revolution
Redefining the Employer‐Employee Relationship
Economic Uncertainty
What Type of Employee Are You?
Proven Strategies to Plan Your Success
Strategy #1: People
Navigating the New
Your Work Location Matters
Identify Your Key Stakeholders
How to Identify and Map Your Stakeholders
The Value of Adapting Your Communication Style
Setting Up Regular Town Halls
Developing Positive Relationships with Your Peers
Strategy #2: Goal Setting and Feedback
Why Do Goals Matter?
How Performance Management Works with Goals
Goal Setting and Types of Goal Setting in Organizations
The Importance of Feedback
STAR: A “Feedback” Model
Strategy #3: Company Processes
How You Benefit from Understanding Company Processes
Types of Company Processes
Pay Attention to HR Policies to Help You Achieve Your Goals
Ensuring Professionalism and Integrity with the Code of Conduct
Other Policies You May Encounter
Communication Process
Strategy #4: Navigating Technology in Your New Role
Navigating a Virtual Workplace: Susan's Story
Learning About Your New Company's Systems: Mary's Story
Standing Out by Embracing New Technology: My Story
Are You an Early Adopter?
My Uncomfortable Story About IT and Data Security
Sci‐Fi Becomes Reality: Artificial Intelligence and the Workplace
Strategy #5: Know the Business
The Principles of Chess You Can Use to Navigate Your New Role
Understand the Company's Business Model
Know and Understand the Products and Services
Review the Organizational Charts
The Case for Stakeholder Mapping
Strategy #6: The Company Culture
Why Learning About a Company's Culture Matters
How to Find the Ideal Company Culture for You
What Is Meant by “Company Culture” Anyway?
Examples of Company Cultures and How They Look and Feel
Company Cultures That Failed
Seven Ways to Gain Insight into a Company Culture
What to Know About Company Culture and the New Employee
The Culture at Amazon
Navigating the Unwritten Rules of Company Culture
Strategy #7: Keep Learning
Growth Mindset versus Fixed Mindset in Your New Role
Why Is Continuous Learning Important?
Becoming 37% Better
Your Well‐Being
From Starfleet to Your Desk: Take on Challenges the
Star Trek
Way
Roald Amundsen: The Norwegian Explorer
Robert Falcon Scott: British Determination
Your Success Starts with You
Go Get Them, Tiger!
Bibliography
Acknowledgment
About the Author
Index
End User License Agreement
Guide
Cover
Table of Contents
Praise for Navigate Your Career
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Navigate Your Career
Prologue
Introduction
Begin Reading
Bibliography
Acknowledgment
About the Author
Index
End User License Agreement
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Praise for Navigate Your Career
“With Navigate Your Career, Dr. Shveta Miglani has crafted a comprehensive roadmap to success. Her deep understanding of career development and her inspirational guidance make this book a must‐read.”
—Siva Sivaram,President and CEO of Quantum Space
“Whether you are well established in your career or just getting started, Dr. Shveta Miglani's Navigate Your Career serves as an indispensable guide for thriving in a new role. Through deeply researched insights and relatable personal stories from those who have been through it, Miglani masterfully unpacks the hard truths of navigating career transitions, offering readers practical advice and recipes for success.”
—Drew Henry,Executive Vice President Strategy and Ecosystems at ARM
“Dr. Miglani's comprehensive and structured approach is a must‐read for anyone pursuing a successful career or role change. Her insights are invaluable for charting a progressive career path.”
—Shiva Esturi,Vice President at Micron Technology
“With Navigate Your Career, Dr. Shveta Miglani shares 7 practical strategies to take charge of your success. Her insightful stories give every reader a clear way to evaluate, define, and achieve success at every step of their career.”
—Humera Malik Shahid,Vice President Talent Development and, Inclusion – Western digital
“This book is a must‐read for anyone stepping into a new role. Dr. Shveta Miglani masterfully combines compelling storytelling with practical advice, delivering career lessons that will empower you to hit the ground running and achieve success.”
—Lorraine K. Lee,Keynote Speaker and author of Unforgettable Presence
“Shveta Miglani is the real deal. Shveta has spent 20 years in and around HR in one of the roughest, toughest environments for “People”: high tech in Silicon Valley. She's seen dozens of high potentials succeed… and fail. Many smart people simply do their jobs and let their career manage them. Listen and learn from one of the rock stars in high‐tech talent management. She can help YOU manage and OWN your career!”
—Jack B. Keenan,Founder and Chairman of Jack B. Keenan Inc.
“In Navigate Your Career, Dr. Shveta Miglani makes an incisive connection between how we move from our philosophical understanding of success to a strategic implementation of success. This playbook delivers a vertical and horizontal approach to making an impact in your career, adapting to environments and cultures, and finding your pathways to success by defining clear goals and being willing to do the work necessary to get there.”
―Sharawn Tipton,Chief People and Culture Officer, LiveRamp
“Shveta Miglani’s Navigate Your Career feels like having a personal coach in your corner. It’s packed with sharp, practical strategies that cut through the noise and set you up to thrive in any new role. If you’re stepping into something new and want to crush it from day 1, this is the playbook you need.”
―AJ Thomas,Founder and CEO, The Troublemaker Lab
“Dr. Shveta Miglani has such a wealth of experience in developing and coaching talent in the corporate world and understands both sides of developing a successful career. Her new book, Navigate Your Career, is the perfect guide for anyone starting a new job or career or who is looking to jump‐start their career to accelerate their success. I highly recommend it.”
―Andy Storch,author of Own Your Career Own Your Life
“I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dr. Miglani's book, and several sections really resonated with me. One example is her insight into the important questions we should ask both our boss and ourselves when starting a new job. As she wisely states, “Knowing what is expected of you allows you to focus your efforts effectively.”
―Ashima Puri,People Team Operations and Chief of Staff, Samsung Electronics
“A practical and insightful guide for anyone stepping into a new role. This book offers valuable strategies that can help you start strong and succeed with confidence.”
―Marc Effron,President, Talent Strategy Group, and author of One Page Talent Management
“Shveta’s expertise as a leader in Learning and Development shines in this relatable and practical career guide―perfect for professionals at all stages.”
―Trena Minudri,Chief Learning Officer, Coursera
““Navigate Your Career” is a powerful guide for ambitious professional striving for advancement. Shveta Miglani offers actionable strategies and inspiring stories to help you to achieve new roles and earn well‐deserved promotions. A must‐have for anyone serious about career growth.”
―Pavitra Rungta,Operations and Product Finance — Apple
NAVIGATE YOUR CAREER
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN NEW ROLES AND PROMOTIONS
SHVETA MIGLANI, PhD
Copyright © 2025 by John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial intelligence technologies or similar technologies.
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For Kabeer and Mrinal, my universe
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master,
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two impostors just the same. . .
—Excerpt from “If” by Rudyard Kipling
Prologue
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
—Lao Tzu
AT THE AGE OF 27, I received a job offer from one of the best companies in the world after several months of interviews. I thought this was my dream job. This company was ramping up to be a software giant. I had studied all its products, learned about its culture through available videos, freshened up my educational technical skills, and spent hours practicing in front of the mirror to answer questions. When the job offer arrived, I accepted the role, moved to another city, and left my friends and family behind.
During the interview process, adrenaline surged through me, fueling my excitement. I carried that energy with me as I stepped through the door on my first day of orientation, eager to meet everyone, absorb as much as possible about the business, and prove myself as a valuable addition to the team. The feeling of fitting in was important to me because I thought I would do my job well if I fit in. In my mind, I had made it, and all my hard work was finally showing results. The one thought that kept me going was that my family would be so proud of me for getting a job at one of the best tech companies in the world.
The feeling didn't last long. After my first 100 days, I realized I had made a big mistake and didn't see myself staying there. What went wrong? What could I have done better? Was I not capable of taking on that role? Why didn't I succeed in that company?
These thought‐provoking questions have often kept me awake at night as I've reflected on my professional journey. Over the course of several years as a talent development leader, I've had the opportunity to create global leadership development programs and collaborate with seasoned executives and newcomers across various organizations. What struck me the most was that, like me, they were seeking answers to a fundamental question: “What leads to success in a new role?”
With over two decades of experience in talent development, I've observed that someone usually knows within the first two to three months if they are going to stay in an organization. I have devoted my life to understanding the intricacies of joining new companies and assuming fresh roles. Not only have I meticulously planned my own transitions based on personal experience, but I have also designed and implemented onboarding programs across various global organizations to make the new employees successful in their new jobs. These programs allowed me to learn from both seasoned leaders and fellow newcomers, gaining insights into how they prepare for their responsibilities.
Due to my interest in the topic and with the mission of improving outcomes, I observed the journeys of these individuals within their respective companies. To validate my findings, I conducted rigorous doctoral research focused on answering the question I mentioned earlier: “What contributes to success in a new role?” This comprehensive study involved analyzing published data, conducting numerous interviews, and seeking peer evaluation. But I didn't want to merely publish a dissertation. I took the research further and conducted interviews with industry leaders about their experience in order to share the best strategic tools for you to be successful in your next role. The result is this book, so you can benefit from their knowledge.
A Fish in New Waters
When I tell people I have changed residential addresses 22 times in my lifetime, they are shocked. A huge part of those changes in my young years was due to my father's government job in India. With every promotion he received, we landed in a new city. As you can imagine, I had to settle into a new home, a new set of friends, and a new school each time we moved. Even now, when I smell fresh paint, I'm taken back to the moments in my life when I used to walk into a new home filled with moving boxes, and friendly neighbors who would stop by to greet us. These moves helped me learn new languages and learn about the different cultures of the cities where we lived. At a young age, without knowing the technical term for what I was learning, I had started the process of gathering the knowledge to assimilate in a new place. At the same time, I had started to create a mental playbook to help me expedite that process more quickly.
To fit in, I sharpened my elevator pitch, which helped me to make new friends almost every day. While going up and down our apartment elevators, I would meet our new neighbors. In my case, my ability to share an elevator pitch really and truly did start in elevators. This important skill served me well because I had someone's attention for just a few minutes. The skill can serve you well because you want to leave a good impression and you want people to remember you the next time they see you.
Based on each person's reaction in the elevator, I modified my approach to introducing myself. This was real‐time learning. For instance, using humor to introduce myself always helped me feel more at ease, breaking the ice and creating a comfortable atmosphere. While this approach landed well with people my age, older people didn't appreciate it. The type of language I used also mattered because, in India, we communicate in several languages. For instance, when I met kids my age, I would introduce myself in English with a joke or two about how we’d be lucky if the elevator takes us up safely and doesn't stop in the middle. I would always get a chuckle from others my age. By the time we reached our floors, we would have progressed from strangers to acquaintances. However, when I introduced myself to older people in the neighborhood, I greeted them in Hindi with a “Namaste” first. I talked with them about which school I was attending, which the older generation wanted to know. I stayed away from making any jokes about elevators because that would not have gone over well with them. Making friends in these new places and networking with them helped me and my family learn about the local issues, such as where we could find the best schools, restaurants, groceries, and social events in the community. This reduced the time needed for us to feel comfortable in our new location. This was the era of no internet, and getting access to information depended on conversations and relationships; it was not as easy as it is now. After my “elevator work,” I was able to walk to the bus and say hello to new acquaintances. This increased my confidence to do better and took my mind off of feeling like a newbie.
Building skills around how to communicate with my target audience helped me to assimilate into my new surroundings and gave me the confidence to fit in. When I was younger, this process was fun and felt like an adventure with every new place. As I hit my teen years, the situation became tougher. Rather than starting a new adventure, fitting in became the central focus for every move. Remember, this was the era with no internet (I know I am dating myself here), no social media (obviously), and no way to learn about a new city, the residential area, or my school in advance. I could not prepare for the transition in advance, and I had to jump into the situation with both feet.
In over two decades of working at various organizations within the corporate world, the concept of fitting in has remained a constant. As I transitioned between roles, this feeling persisted, shaping my professional journey. I began this journey by gaining hands‐on experience at some of the top Silicon Valley companies, complementing that real‐world learning with academic research to deepen my understanding.
Over the years, I had the privilege of contributing to the success of several Fortune 500 companies. Among them were Salesforce, GlobalFoundries, SanDisk, Palo Alto Networks, LiveRamp, and Micron. My diverse roles centered around optimizing employee performance and driving business revenue. I achieved this by collaborating with cross‐functional teams, including business units, sales, marketing, and human resources.
Building skills around how to communicate with my target audience helped me to assimilate into my new surroundings and gave me the confidence to fit in.
Some of these companies offered the best benefits, satisfying roles, and invigorating onboarding sessions. Even though from the outside these organizations had everything to offer, I would know in a matter of weeks if I wasn't going to stay long term with the company. When this happened early in my career, I wasn't able to decipher why I did not like the new job. Reflecting on my experience after several years, I realized that the companies where I didn't want to stay were the ones where I could not fit in for a variety of reasons. My experience turned into scientific curiosity, and this led me to design a study in my postgraduate work about what makes someone successful in their role.
Throughout my professional journey, I've encountered numerous opportunities for advancement that have enriched my expertise. My graduate research and the privilege of guiding various leaders as an executive coach during their transitional phases have been particularly formative. These experiences equipped me with a wealth of knowledge that I am eager to share.
When I think about adjusting to new places and within a new company, I am reminded of a wonderful story that I would like to share. My dad was very fond of exotic fishes and we had a large fish tank in our home, right next to our dining area. Instead of watching TV or reading, my dad loved having his meals and watching his fish enjoying their surroundings in the tank he built. He found this relaxing. Every few months, my sister and I would go to the fish tank store in our city with great excitement to find the next pair of fish to add to our fish tank. This tradition helped us to understand more about these creatures and what it takes to help them thrive.
One day, my mom surprised us all by bringing home a pair of goldfish. We were all excited to see how they would enjoy their new tank. As we were slowly putting them in the tank, my dad had a big smile on his face as he was enjoying the process.
He said, “Now we have to wait and see how the fish acclimatize to the new tank.”
My sister and I giggled and teased our dad that “acclimatize” wasn't a word, and he was creative for making it up. “Why don't you girls go look it up in your dictionary?” he asked.
We promptly ran to our room and, of course, we were so excited to see the word and what it meant. According to the dictionary, “acclimatize” means to respond physiologically or behaviorally to a change in conditions in the natural environment. This fun situation helped me to learn a new word and to understand what I was going through when I later changed jobs and joined a new company. Many of you will face the same situation and will want to acclimatize to your new surroundings quickly, so you can thrive and not merely survive. I am also happy to report that the fish quickly settled in, and, within a few days, they were happily swimming around the tank, enjoying the company of their new aquatic friends and their new home.
Starting a new chapter in your career is an adventure. This book acts as your guide through the unknown terrain of a fresh corporate environment and position. I write this to help you gain an understanding of a company's culture, anticipated standards, and the subtle nuances that often take extensive time to discern. The Navigate Your Career approach focuses on creating an optimal beginning to a new position, making sure you distinguish yourself as someone ready to make a significant contribution. The process I teach here transcends merely securing a position and helps you master the position from your first day.
The Navigate Your Career approach focuses on creating an optimal beginning to a new position, making sure you distinguish yourself as someone ready to make a significant contribution.
How to Benefit from This Book
As we grow, we revisit certain books. They serve as mental refreshers, catalysts for new learning, and guides for applying concepts in the evolving context of our lives. My hope is that this book becomes that type of valuable resource for you. Whether you're an intern, an experienced professional, an individual contributor, a knowledge worker, or a leader, the insights within these pages are universally applicable.
Navigating your career involves taking control of your professional path, making thoughtful decisions, and confidently driving actions toward growth and success. This process demands a proactive mindset, a readiness to embrace responsibility, and the ability to inspire and motivate oneself and others. Navigating your career in a new role begins with evaluating the current landscape, understanding potential challenges, and identifying opportunities to make meaningful progress.
This book is intentionally crafted to empower you with the flexibility to engage with the content in a manner that suits your preferences. You can opt to read it sequentially, page by page, or directly dive into specific strategies that resonate with your situation.
Introduction
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
—Benjamin Franklin
ON MARCH 30, 1994, INDRA NOOYI joined her new role as a corporate strategist at PepsiCo. Before PepsiCo, she had worked for quite a few years as a product manager and strategic consultant at companies like Johnson & Johnson, Motorola, Boston Consulting Group, and ABB. She was an experienced professional when she joined PepsiCo. In the first few months of starting her role, she did all the right things. She met with her team and department heads and, most important, she asked questions of her boss about PepsiCo's finances, structure, and priorities. Doing this helped her to excel in her role and to use all the key resources around her to learn about PepsiCo's culture and its people. She met the team in different locations around the world in her initial months to learn directly from the source about the inner workings of different functions. She put in hours to study, prepare, and continue to learn by surrounding herself with various resources and giving it all she had.
Nooyi knew, to ramp up in her new role, she would need to invest equal time in all the areas, stakeholders, and the business. She went on to become the CEO of PepsiCo from 1996 to 2012, and one could say her initial steps of strategizing in her new role helped to lay that foundation. Nooyi's example serves as a powerful reminder that, regardless of your level in your professional career, strategically planning your path before joining a job is a crucial investment of your time.
Regardless of your level in your professional career, strategically planning your path before joining a job is a crucial investment of your time.
Evolution of Work
Since the late 18th century, the Industrial Revolution has profoundly transformed work, shifting it from agrarian economies to industrialized urban centers. Factories centralized production, introducing mass manufacturing techniques that demanded long hours—often 12 to 16 hours a day, six days a week—with low wages and little regard for worker safety. Child labor was prevalent, and working conditions were hazardous. Despite these grueling hours, wages were meager, with men earning slightly more than women, and children, who also worked in factories, earning the least. The factory environment was hazardous, with little regard for worker safety, as machines lacked safety covers and accidents were common. Children as young as five were employed to operate machinery, often because their small fingers could handle delicate tasks. In Norman Ware’s book, The Industrial Worker 1840‐1860, he highlights about the working conditions during the Industrial Revolution. Factory workers, including children, endured long hours—sometimes exceeding 12 to 16 hours a day—with minimal breaks. The work environments were poorly ventilated, dimly lit, and filled with hazardous machinery, leading to frequent injuries. Employers prioritized efficiency over worker safety, and labor laws were virtually nonexistent. Over time, labor movements and government regulations improved conditions, but the early years of industrialization were marked by exploitation and hardship.
Over time, these harsh realities spurred the rise of labor unions and movements advocating for workers' rights, better wages, and safer working environments. Today, the work landscape has changed dramatically. Modern workplaces typically feature standard eight‐hour workdays, five days a week, with paid holidays and vacation time. Strict safety regulations and labor laws now protect workers, who receive fair wages, health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits. A greater emphasis on work‐life balance has become more common and includes flexible working hours and remote work options.
Today, companies allocate substantial resources to identify and hire the right candidates for their job openings. These resources encompass financial investments, equity, time, and energy. This holds particularly true in high‐growth organizations, where the competition for top talent is fierce. Each new hire represents a significant financial commitment for the company even before they officially begin their role. Research consistently shows that the highest turnover rates within organizations occur among newcomers. Even if a company experiences just a few instances of turnover, the associated costs—both in terms of hiring and training—are substantial.
Organizations are keenly aware of the significant resources they invest in hiring and onboarding new employees. They are committed to your success and have put in place various processes, resources, and support systems to help you thrive. However, your active engagement and proactive approach are crucial to fully benefit from this supportive environment. As you embark on your new role, remember that your success is directly tied to the company's ability to achieve its business goals.
Starting a new professional chapter, whether it's a shift within your current organization or a leap to a new one, requires a strategic approach. The foundational elements of this process are largely the same, though each path demands specific considerations.
As you embark on your new role, remember that your success is directly tied to the company's ability to achieve its business goals.
Take Brandon Clark, for example. His insights from his career trajectory have been invaluable. As the head of global learning and development at Adobe, Brandon's prior experiences at Walmart and Workday provided him with unique perspectives on navigating career transitions.
In our conversation for this book, Brandon recounted his strategies for success when moving between roles. At Walmart, he experienced several internal role changes, where the expectation to dive in and perform was intense, leaving little room for reflection. However, his move to Workday marked a significant change, as he took a six‐week hiatus to reflect and strategize, crafting a detailed notebook during this period.
During our book interviews, he emphasized the importance of self‐promotion but noted that the true test comes with the actual work. Questions like “Why does the company need me?” and “What unique contributions can I bring?” were central to his preparation.
Brandon opened up about the doubts that surface after a long tenure with one company, questioning one's ability to succeed elsewhere. This is a nod to the phenomenon of “imposter syndrome,” a term introduced in the late 1970s by psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes. The term describes an individual's internal conflict when they doubt their capabilities despite evident success, a common experience during promotions or when taking on larger responsibilities. This feeling is far more common than most people realize, affecting everyone from entry‐level employees to seasoned executives. It's that nagging doubt that despite your achievements, you're not as competent as others perceive you to be. Even some of the most successful leaders have faced these same feelings, proving that imposter syndrome is just a part of the human experience.
Through his period of reflection, Brandon was able to align his thoughts and bolster his confidence for his new role at Workday. His commitment to continuous learning didn't halt when he joined the new company. He keenly observed the organizational dynamics, engaged with key stakeholders early, and crafted a vision for his team, all actions that were instrumental in his successful transition. His time at Workday was a big success as he created a strong impact through his work, built a team of leaders, and continued to achieve personal success in his career journey. He took those learnings to his role at Adobe and today he is a successful leader there.
Career Planning
Let's take a moment to pause before diving into the rest of the chapters and discuss the concept of career planning, which is something I knew little about early in my career. Planning helps you find the right role and achieve success. With online tools like LinkedIn, professionals have more opportunities to seek new careers than before. However, without a strategy, these tools can cause confusion and lead to poor decisions. Being approached by recruiters online can feel validating, yet be cautious about making jumps without thoroughly considering what you want in your next career move. Although you might choose to engage with a recruiter who reached out to you, you need to develop a plan to be ready to accept the right offer.
