10 Habits Assuring Career Self-Sabotage
:::Expert's Classic "Fatal Flaws" of a Doomed Employee:::
You're fired! This succinct phrase strikes more fear into the
heart of the working man than any other. Why is it, then, that
many well-intentioned and reasonably astute professionals hear
these words chronically throughout their career despite all best
efforts? Below are the top 10 self-destructive workplace habits
sure to endanger one's longevity on the job.
Even with this small amount of insight, many aspiring
professionals can learn how to maintain their good standing in
the workplace and actually excel on the job rather than
self-destruct. Employee turnover hurts not only those receiving
their 'walking papers', but employers as well since this is a
costly, through avoidable, expense.
With this in mind, serial "Labor Losers" can benefit by knowing
these 10 key ways to get your self canned:
1. Failing to have a life plan - All very successful people have
a clear life plan, whether memorized or actually written down.
They create it, massage it, and refer to it often.
2. Not keeping your skill set current - The business landscape
is ever-changing and there is more demand for jobs than supply.
Not staying on par with colleagues and those vying for your job
will be a deathnell.
3. Failing to deliver results - Winners in business know that
it's all about accountability. Those who harbor a sense of
entitlement for simply having put forth effort, irrespective of
the results of those efforts, are guaranteed to fall by the
wayside.
4. Confusing efficiency with effectiveness - Those who think
that communicating via e-mail replaces the need to actually talk
with people around them fail to recognize the importance of
personally connecting with others in today's highly automated
and technological environment. Communicating in person whenever
possible is imperative for success-seekers.
5. Believing that you are irreplaceable - There is no room for
"divas" in the workplace. As soon as you convince yourself that
you and only you can do the job "right", your star will surely
start to fall.
6. Knowing all the answers - The old adage remains true:
knowledge is power. Professing to know it all can readily
stagnate a career. Winners remain unceasingly interested in
learning new ideas and approaches.
7. Surrounding your self with "brown-nosers" - Losers like
having people tell them how smart they are, whether or not it's
true, while successful managers and other professionals accept
and encourage intelligence and creativity in others.
8. Forgetting to give credit to others - Losers inappropriately
take full credit for positive events despite the help or input
received by others, while Winners give credit where credit is
due. Losers inevitably reap what they sow.
9. Failing to self promote - Bragging is one thing, but letting
colleagues throughout your industry know of your success through
case studies, promotion bulletins, or other such tools is quite
another. Losers often fail to recognize the importance of
letting others know about their successes, or go about it in
entirely the wrong way.
10. Losing perspective - Intuitive business people recognize
that, despite their best attempts to do everything right,
sometimes they approach roadblocks and seek the advice and
perspective of a respected friend, colleague or even a business
coach. Those who fail to recognize their shortcomings are
destined for the unemployment line.