Five failures that kill a career are easy to avoid provided you know what they are and how to avoid them.
Whether you are climbing the corporate ladder or trying to stay ahead of younger employees, working hard is not enough. In order to have a successful career, you not only have to work hard but you have to work smart. Staying ahead requires that you do all the right things in addition to avoiding all of the wrong things. Failing to pay attention to the details can cause you to miss a promotion or even be the unlucky soul that gets the pink slip. Five failures that kill a career are easy to avoid provided you know what they are and how to avoid them.
1. Failing to continue your education - I do not mean that you need to mortgage your life for a student loan to get a master's degree; however, you do need to keep your skills current. Attorneys and other professionals are required to attend continuing education classes to keep current with changes in their fields. Believing that you know it all and there is nothing anyone can teach you will have you on the fast track to the unemployment office. Continually update your skills and keep current on changes in your field.
2. Failing to meet deadlines and falling short of expectations - Successful professionals do not fear accountability but they do know how important it is to a promising career. Simply putting for any effort is not sufficient in today's competitive market. Getting results is key to keeping your job and excelling in your field. If you do not perform above your expectations, you will be replaced by someone who will.
3. Failing to shine among your colleagues - Making sure you let others know about your accomplishments is not the same thing as bragging. Bragging is all about drawing attention to yourself and making others jealous of you. However, letting peers know about your accomplishments through newsletters, corporate announcements, case studies and other professional publications is a smart tool to further your career and give you job stability. NOTE: Do not forget to recognize the accomplishments of others, give credit where credit is due and acknowledge your team. Failing to acknowledge others when it is justified will only harm you in the long term.
4. Failing to communicate in person - Successful professionals use technology to make them work better not harder. Technology has given us a greater degree of efficiency in the workplace. However, failing to make personal contact with clients, co-workers and superiors may cost you a promotion. Technology is a useful tool; however, it is only a tool and should be used to enhance your performance not replace it. Face to face contact is essential to develop contacts and personal relationships - - make an effort to communicate in person whenever practical or at least by telephone.
5. Failing to realize that you are replaceable - Becoming overconfident and assuming you are so important that they cannot function without you is a mistake many employees make when they are in the height of their success. When everyone is asking for your opinion, calling you to help and looking to you for the answers, it is easy to develop a diva mentality. In reality, none of us is irreplaceable in the workforce, especially in today's competitive market.
Whether you are climbing the corporate ladder or trying to stay ahead of younger employees, working hard is not enough. In order to have a successful career, you not only have to work hard but you have to work smart. Staying ahead requires that you do all the right things in addition to avoiding all of the wrong things. Failing to pay attention to the details can cause you to miss a promotion or even be the unlucky soul that gets the pink slip. Five failures that kill a career are easy to avoid provided you know what they are and how to avoid them.
1. Failing to continue your education - I do not mean that you need to mortgage your life for a student loan to get a master's degree; however, you do need to keep your skills current. Attorneys and other professionals are required to attend continuing education classes to keep current with changes in their fields. Believing that you know it all and there is nothing anyone can teach you will have you on the fast track to the unemployment office. Continually update your skills and keep current on changes in your field.
2. Failing to meet deadlines and falling short of expectations - Successful professionals do not fear accountability but they do know how important it is to a promising career. Simply putting for any effort is not sufficient in today's competitive market. Getting results is key to keeping your job and excelling in your field. If you do not perform above your expectations, you will be replaced by someone who will.
3. Failing to shine among your colleagues - Making sure you let others know about your accomplishments is not the same thing as bragging. Bragging is all about drawing attention to yourself and making others jealous of you. However, letting peers know about your accomplishments through newsletters, corporate announcements, case studies and other professional publications is a smart tool to further your career and give you job stability. NOTE: Do not forget to recognize the accomplishments of others, give credit where credit is due and acknowledge your team. Failing to acknowledge others when it is justified will only harm you in the long term.
4. Failing to communicate in person - Successful professionals use technology to make them work better not harder. Technology has given us a greater degree of efficiency in the workplace. However, failing to make personal contact with clients, co-workers and superiors may cost you a promotion. Technology is a useful tool; however, it is only a tool and should be used to enhance your performance not replace it. Face to face contact is essential to develop contacts and personal relationships - - make an effort to communicate in person whenever practical or at least by telephone.
5. Failing to realize that you are replaceable - Becoming overconfident and assuming you are so important that they cannot function without you is a mistake many employees make when they are in the height of their success. When everyone is asking for your opinion, calling you to help and looking to you for the answers, it is easy to develop a diva mentality. In reality, none of us is irreplaceable in the workforce, especially in today's competitive market.
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