Avoid the mistakes that trip others up.
You know what would tank your career faster than an iceberg downing the Titanic? It's not mixing up some research statistics or specializing in the three-martini lunch--although neither will help your career much. What finishes most of us off is letting our personal dilemmas, weaknesses, and flaws fall all over the faux-marble office foyer. All those adolescent hang-ups have merely been hiding, waiting to spring up and sabotage your career. Gaze into the mirror of self-reflection for a moment and see if you are guilty of any of the following offenses.
1. Mixing Pleasure With Business
Sure, we all take a little bit of us to the office--that's why they hired us in the first place. But the "you" they hired was a dull three-piece suit, saying "yes ma'am" and "no sir" like a trained circus animal.
Now, months have passed and the real you rears its ugly head. You chat with the receptionist about your hairdresser, trade stories with the mailroom guy about growing up, and tell your cube mate about last night's date from hell. This is how it starts. Then, as you get more and more comfortable, you dish about others in the office. Next thing you know, nary a report has been completed and nearly a dozen projects have yet to be started.
People may shoot you down once in a while, but tenacity will eventually pay off.
You probably couldn't kill your career faster. Even if your bosses haven't caught wind of your loose-lipped ways, they have noticed the slowdown in your production. And, sooner or later, they'll hear about everything else. To mend your ways and move on with a glorious career, just put a cork in it. Don't chat about your personal life and stop gossiping about others around the office. Easy enough, right?
2. Being Unprofessional
Even in today's relaxed work environment, professionalism still rules. Your boss is still your boss; it's still your job to enthusiastically do whatever the company asks of you. If you disagree with their decisions, you do it with the grace and dignity of a dignitary. Don't be moody and don't let your ego get in the way. Don't be defensive when your ideas and proposals get shot down. If a proud nature challenges your upward mobility, schedule some weekly time on the couch of a good shrink--it will cost less in the long run.
3. Going Through the Motions
You don't care about the company's latest milestones or industry trends. You do your work, get there on time, and don't leave too early. You're not rocking the boat at all. But are you bringing the ship down? One of the biggest career mistakes is not doing what you're passionate about. Or, what's worse, working for a company or product you can't stand. Bottom line: If you're not excited about work come Monday morning, it's probably time to find a new product to pitch.
4. Ignoring What You Deserve
Don't be a doormat. If you want a job, go get it. If you think you deserve a promotion, then go after it with a vengeance. This is your career, a chance to make your mark on the world. Whether you're the Idaho basket weaving champ or a top sales executive at NBC, you deserve to reap the benefits of your work. So, don't just sit there and wait for it to happen. Meet with people, go to functions, make phone calls, and basically throw yourself on the auction block. People may shoot you down once in a while, but tenacity will eventually pay off.
5. Forgetting the Plan
You started as an excited young advertising executive ready to conquer the world. Now, ten years later, you're completely stalled. Many mid-life careers get stuck because people don't keep their objectives and goals in check. Get in the habit of performing a once-a-year evaluation on your own career status. Did you want to be at a more senior level by now? Didn't you want to move to another company? Make one-, three-, and five-year plans, outline goals and objectives, specify job responsibilities, and list new skills to learn. Setting good goals will only help you reach--and exceed--them.
Rebecca Firth is a freelance writer and editor, based in California.
