A practical guide for someone starting a career in the corporate world.

1. How to build a successful career:
A practical guide
© Achal Raghavan
Strategy & Business Excellence Consultant
Bangalore, India
achalraghavan@yahoo.co.in
www.achalraghavan.com
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2. Contents
Introduction
Globalization – what it means to you
Know your organization
Know yourself
Sum up
2

3. Introduction
This is a practical guide for someone
starting out in the corporate world
Based on real-life experience
A road-map
3

4. Globalization –
what it means to you
4

5. Global markets
The customer is getting more dominant
– over companies and countries
“Nationality” of a product is getting
more blurred & less important
Markets are becoming global – through
interlinked economies
The world is not (yet) flat – but “semi-
globalized”
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6. What is “globalization”?
It is “blurring / eliminating /
transcending boundaries”
It is “fungibility” - i.e. interchangeability
and freedom of movement - of
managerial resources:
Money
Technology
Equipment
People 6

7. What does that mean for you?
You have to develop a global
mind-set
You need to be sensitive to cultural
differences
You have to integrate
You need to become a team-player
You need to get comfortable with
change
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8. Developing a global mind-set
Open-minded
Non-judgmental
Comfortable with diversity
Interested in history, geography &
global phenomena
Risk-taking capability
Abstract thinking
People management
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9. Need for cultural integration
Global business brings together people from
different cultures
Need to collaborate, to succeed
Cultural boundaries are not just national
boundaries – e.g. India = 25 cultures
Cultural integration critical for success
Case: Daimler – Chrysler merger
Failed due to cultural differences
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10. Cultural diversity and
integration: a challenge
“American” “Indian”
•What do these labels
mean?
•How do you make
people work together
as a team?
•What is your cultural
orientation?
“Japanese”
“German”
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11. Cultural integration
Get comfortable with diversity in
workplace
Avoid snap judgments
Build relationships based on
professional respect
Put “team” over “me”
Evolve result-oriented team culture
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12. Know your organization
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13. Understand company DNA
What are its core values?
What is its attitude to growth?
Slow and steady?
Aggressive?
Who makes / influences the decisions?
How?
What are its basic processes?
What are its limitations?
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14. Organizational culture
“The Iceberg”
10%
Behaviour
Visible
Under
Attitudes, beliefs, the
value systems, surface
tradition 90%
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15. Organizational culture
Do not go by first impressions
Remember the “iceberg”
Look for the “unsaid”
Gain acceptance
Then exert influence
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16. Know yourself
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17. The path to progress
Find role that matches your natural
strengths
Do justice to your role
Meet commitments
Volunteer
Keep learning
Be a “team member”
Earn your progress
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18. The Manager: a “mind map”
“What is my mission in life?”
Know
Passion /
yourself!
Mission in life
“Role clarity”
“Find a balance”
Image
Rational vs. Manager
(Johari window)
emotional (You)
“Defining moments” “Owner vs. manager”
Stakeholders (customers,
employees, shareholders,
suppliers)
Developed by Prof. DVR Seshadri
“Communication / & Achal Raghavan
Alliance-building” 18

19. Business ethics
Ethical dilemmas - an integral part of
corporate life
More acute as you go higher up
“Defining moments” – created by your
decisions and actions
You need a “code” - and a framework
Remember – all it takes is one bad fall
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20. The corporate ladder –
and your “centre of gravity”
As you climb, it Lonely at the top
feels great! 24 X 7 X 52
You can achieve a Work / life balance
lot of things Stress
Make a difference Risk and reward go
to the company together
Money and power !
•You have to find your “centre of gravity” - where your job and
your capabilities match at that stage in your career
• A higher position requires a broader base (of capabilities)
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21. A recap
Get ready for a globalized work-place
Global mind-set
Cultural integration
Know your organization
Company DNA
Organizational culture
Know yourself
The manager’s mind map
Ethics
Your “Centre of Gravity”
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22. Sum-up
Play to your strengths
Do what you enjoy; the money will follow
A career is a marathon
Sustain your motivation and energy
Avoid burn-out
Nurture your human relationships
Stay in touch with yourself
Keep a sense of balance
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23. Thank you and good luck!
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