Since most careers don’t follow a linear and smooth trajectory and there are a lot of things that can get in the way of your success, here are a few behaviors that could kill your career that you should consider. Jack Welch, Executive Chairman of the Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University, thinks that you should take a good look in the mirror and figure out what you are doing wrong if you seem to be on a downward spiral at work. Are you guilty of exhibiting unproductive behaviors that can sabotage your career and your productivity in the long term? If your answer is yes, then make sure to change them so you’ll manage to reach all your professional goals and fulfill all your dreams. Here are 7 behaviors that could kill your career:
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1. Being Complacent
Being complacent is one of the most toxic behaviors that could kill your career because if you stop growing (not only in your career but in your personal life too), you’ll stand still or even take some steps backwards and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to do that. Just make a plan and do everything in your power to overcome all the obstacles in your path so you will manage to achieve all your goals.
2. Being a Problem Identifier
It’s not enough to identify the problems that interfere with your career or the ones that prevent you from reaching your objectives; you’ll need to find some efficient ways to solve them. Jacquelyn Smith says that “Identifying problems sounds a lot like complaining if you don’t do anything about them.”
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3. Over-Committing
Misfiring on performance or values can really affect your career in the long term. Even though you think you’ll make a good impression by taking a lot of responsibilities, if you under-deliver you will manage to do exactly the opposite. Just keep in mind that all talk and no walk won’t help you get ahead in your field, so make sure that you only make promises that you can keep.
4. Resisting Change
Be open-minded and don’t resist change if you want to see some progress in your career. Just keep in mind that failing to embrace new ideas can seriously hurt your career. Ask for feedback from the people you work with (your colleagues or even your clients) and always try to improve yourself and enhance those skills you already have.
5. Worrying about Your Next Career Move
Don’t worry too much about your next career move! Focus on the present and think about different ways in which you can take care of your tasks more efficiently. If you always think about what you will do next, you will seem distracted and this will influence your productivity because you will not seem committed to your current tasks.
6. Lacking the Courage
Lacking the courage to take risks and lacking the conviction to push back on the system can really affect your career in the long term. Believe in yourself, have faith in your abilities and don’t be afraid to fail because failure can be one of the best teachers you’ll ever have.
7. Forgetting to Develop a Plan
Forgetting to develop a plan to succeed in your career can also affect your productivity. Just take a little piece of paper and write down every step you’ll need to take to accomplish your professional goals.
There are quite a few career-pitfalls that you should avoid because they can mean the difference between an upward ride and a downward spiral when it comes to being a good professional at work. Do you know any other behaviors that could kill your career? Please tell us about them in the comments section!
Sources:
linkedin.com
businessinsider.com