"No matter how skilled you are or how long you’ve been in the game, starting a new job can be scary. You want to hit the ground running, prove to your employer that they made the right choice by hiring you, and make a good first impression on your coworkers and teammates. But let’s be honest, finding the time and energy for all of that isn’t exactly easy. If you spend half your time during your first few weeks just trying to remember everyone’s names and your new company passwords, know you’re in the majority.
panic packing? I don't know her.
According to the four career experts I interviewed, though, finding quick success in a new role comes down to implementing nine work habits. These nine work habits, which we are getting into ahead, are the ones that all successful women practice whenever they start a new job. Keep reading to find out what they are and why they’re crucial for success at work.
1. They get clear on the context of their role
According to Leadership Consultant Elizabeth Lotardo, successful women get clear on the context of their role. They make it a priority to learn why their role was created and how it contributes to the organizational strategy, what the higher-ups care about most, and what metrics indicate success. Lotardo explained that this allows them to ultimately offer better ideas, understand company decisions, and make more meaningful contributions.
To determine the context of their role, the founder of burnout prevention company unBurnt, Alison Campbell, says successful women spend time with their manager early on to ensure their goals are aligned. This not only demonstrates a commitment and willingness to learn but also affirms that they’re a team player and will integrate into their work environment seamlessly.
2. They create a 90-day plan
It’s easy to temporarily lose sight of your goals when you’re adjusting to a new role, but C-Suite Executive Tracey Newell says successful women prevent that by going into a new job with a 90-day plan. She explained that after they’ve clarified what’s expected of them, they’ll define their “North Star” (AKA a big goal) along with other small wins they want to achieve within the first 90 days. For example, taking on a complex project would be a North Star, while building relationships, sitting in on weekly meetings, and identifying areas for improvement would be small wins.
However, creating and writing out this plan isn’t always enough. According to Newell, successful women take it a step further by presenting it to their manager and other important team members. Newell explained that they do this for two reasons. First, it ensures they’ve accurately mapped out their desired trajectory and are on track to make it happen. Second, it gains support from key players in the company. It shows they’re serious about their work and that they appreciate and value input from others.
3. They focus on building relationships
Being the new kid on the block isn’t always easy, which is why Campbell says successful women focus on building workplace relationships right away. To do this, they’ll introduce themselves to their colleagues and show a genuine interest in their work. Likewise, they’ll schedule times to get to know the people they’ll be directly working with. Campbell explained that this not only builds rapport and trust early but also speeds up the learning curve. After all, enthusiasm is contagious; it makes others want to show you the ropes so you can get settled into your new role more easily. And of course, successful women will check in with their managers and team members regularly for feedback on their performance and ways to improve.
That said, trying to build relationships with your colleagues when you’re working remotely can be challenging, to say the least. But according to the Founder and Principal Consultant of Kera Coaching & Consulting LLC, Ashley Kera, successful women combat this by prioritizing visibility. They’ll schedule regular check-ins with their peers, participate in virtual meetings, and use video calls and emails to strengthen their relationships. The connection might be virtual, but these tactics still build rapport and trust and show employers they’re someone reliable who’s willing to go the extra mile.
“Successful women know that the spotlight is big enough to share, so they always give credit where credit’s due and celebrate team milestones.”
4. They learn the company culture
Unfortunately, making a work bestie or gaining a mentor isn’t as easy as movies and TV shows make it seem. “Rarely will some extroverted work BFF come up to your desk and explain to you how decisions are made, who the ‘need to know’ people are, and what topics to avoid when you have lunch with the leadership team,” Lotardo said. Obviously, no one wants to make a bad impression, but it’s not uncommon to accidentally say the wrong thing or overstep during the early days of employment.
Successful women proactively learn the company culture to avoid this. Kera explained that they’ll note how people communicate in the workplace, whether the meetings are formal or casual, and if employees socialize outside of work. Learning this is essential because it shows how employees function in the workplace. This, in turn, makes it easier to get settled in and become part of the team.
5. They resist the urge to showcase their skills right away
“Successful women understand that excelling in a new role isn’t just about performance—it’s about relationships, adaptability, and strategic positioning,” Kera said. So, they’ll resist the urge to showcase their skills and expertise right off the bat and instead listen and observe first. Likewise, they’ll also ask thoughtful questions during the first few weeks in their new role. Instead of asking, “Why do we do this?” Kera says successful women would say something like, “Can you help me understand how this process works?” to show curiosity and respect for existing processes. Doing this not only allows them to determine the company culture but also prevents them from stepping on anyone’s toes or overstepping their boundaries.
6. They build trust and credibility by being a team player
According to Kera, successful women focus on collaboration over competition. They’ll excitedly take on opportunities that involve working with others and offer up ideas framed as collaborative solutions. Kera explained that rather than critiquing existing methods, successful women might say, “I noticed X—have we considered Y?”
Moreover, successful women know that the spotlight is big enough to share, so they always give credit where credit’s due and celebrate team milestones, according to Campbell. Not only is this a great way to foster connection in the workplace, but it also builds trust and credibility, which is imperative for overall work performance. “Success isn’t about outshining others—it’s about strengthening the team,” Kera explained simply.
“Successful women understand that excelling in a new role isn’t just about performance—it’s about relationships, adaptability, and strategic positioning.”
7. They take on tasks and participate
Although successful women are smart enough to keep their heads down and mouths shut when starting a new role, they willingly take on tasks that come their way, no matter how mundane or basic they seem. Campbell explained that they do this because it builds trust, demonstrates that they’re a team player, and allows them to learn the ins and outs of the company. Plus, it also shows their superiors that they’re enthusiastic and passionate about their job, and that goes a long way in the workplace. After all, no one wants to work with or give opportunities to the employee who’s made their disdain for their job well known.
Additionally, Kera says that successful women also find low-risk ways to contribute at work. In essence, this means assisting teammates in whatever capacity they need, supporting team goals, and if the timing is right, volunteering to take on projects. These low-risk tasks allow them to subtly flex their skills.
8. They adapt to fit into the existing workflow
When it comes down to it, no two work environments are the same. The rules, processes, and communication styles vary from job to job, so while successful women believe in staying true to themselves, Campbell explained they’re still willing and able to adapt to the existing workflow of a new job. They might make meaningful changes down the line, but in the meantime, they embrace the current tools, processes, and ideas their employer is using with a positive attitude. Demonstrating that they’re willing to learn further solidifies their commitment to their job and company.
That said, when it comes time to offer up their opinion, Kera stresses that successful women are proactive—not pushy. Instead of saying, “I think we should change this,” Kera says they’ll say something like, “I’d like to contribute—how can I be of help?” This slight change works because it shows initiative and respect for the workflows that are currently in place.
9. They cultivate a success mindset
“Adjusting to a new job requires the right mindset—it’s a process, not an event,” Kera explained. Therefore, successful women always cultivate a success mindset whenever they start a new job. They know that starting somewhere new can be intimidating, but they don’t let feeling uncertain or uncomfortable get in their way. Instead, they power through and employ the tips above to solidify their credibility and build trust in their new role.
At the end of the day, success doesn’t happen overnight. Rather, it’s a series of intentional steps taken on the career journey that ultimately help you reach your goals. Nothing worth having comes easy, and if you choose to diligently work toward your aspirations in tandem with these work habits, you’ll be wildly successful in every job you have.
Experts Consulted
Alison Campbell
Alison Campbell is the Founder of burnout prevention company unBurnt and has 18 years’ experience working in the corporate world across the Finance, Ecommerce, and HRTech industries. She’s passionate about supporting women in the workplace and destigmatizing burnout and reducing the impact of chronic stress for working professionals.
Ashley Kera
Ashley Kera is the Founder & Principal Consultant of Kera Coaching & Consulting LLC, where she partners with organizations to align people strategies with business goals, solve complex challenges, and build high-performing and engaged teams. She has over a decade of experience in talent strategy, people operations, and program management. Known for creating transformative solutions, Ashley empowers leaders to navigate change, develop talent, and foster workplace cultures that drive growth, connection, and innovation.
Tracey Newell
Tracey Newell is 7-time board member and former Fortune 500 Executive currently serving on the board of advisors for software growth companies Sailpoint, Druva, Highspot, DataRobot and Deepwatch. She is a champion of women in the C-Suite and her forthcoming book, Hers for the Taking: Your Path to the C-Suite & Beyond, inspires women leaders to reach the top in their careers early while providing the tools, strategies and best practices to achieve their goal.
Elizabeth Lotardo
Elizabeth Lotardo is a Consultant, Writer, and Training Creator who helps organizations like Salesforce, DraftKings and Hilton drive emotional engagement and create more purpose-driven work experiences. Elizabeth is also a LinkedIn Learning Instructor, and her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and NPR. Elizabeth’s newest book, Leading Yourself, is about creating meaning, joy, and opportunities at work, even when your job is far from perfect.