Are you the type to have constant feedback about your behavior at work? We all have bad habits but sometimes you don't even notice it. It's time to step back and assess yourself to see which of these 12 things you're doing right now that could potentially damage your career.
Sylvia Hepler, author of Learning Leadership Through Loss explains that most people have bad habits that ruin relationships and work. Here are 12 common habits that can ruin your career.
- Criticizing your boss may not be a good idea especially when you whisper behind his back or publicly pointing out he's wrong.
- Acting as if you don't need to learn new things. Being a know-it-all makes you arrogant and not learning new things stunts your developmental growth.
- Blaming others because you're unable to own up to your mistakes makes you unlikeable. Hepler says unlikeable people rarely advance.
- Wearing your emotions on your sleeve by displaying angry outbursts and whining can tell people you can't contain your own emotions.
- Telling yourself you can't do something is a mindset that only you are aware of and convincing yourself you can't do it will set you up for failure.
- Waiting for the perfect moment means you're a procastinator and you will be seen as someone who is incapable of stepping up.
- Complaining means you focus on the problem rather than the solution. Moaning about changes means you cannot accept change - which is constant in life. Accept that you cannot change things or promote a positive change instead.
- Viewing yourself as an inferior is also another mindset that you put on yourself. It affects your self confidence and stagnates your career.
- Hating your current job disables you from performing. Hepler suggests to focus on the more tolerable aspects of work.
- Believing you can't find a better job dampens your self value. Trust that you have the skills and experience somebody else wants.
- Choosing to remain silent can be bad especially if you have a great idea. How many times did it ever happen that you had the answer and someone beat you to it? Don't be a doormat.
- Lastly, coasting until retirement defines the legacy you leave behind. Hepler says:
Others don't remember - or care about - what you accomplished last year when they observe your bare minimum effort now.
You can still fix it. Hepler explains on Business Insider that you need to recognize your behavior, ask help and input from people you trust. Always remember,
Whatever your sabotaging habit or action, understand that it prompts people to dislike, avoid, discount, and mistrust you. When this happens, opportunities have a way of passing you by.
