Career Killers
Careers can take years to establish and moments to destroy, so it’s important to know some of the common pitfalls that workers make in the course of their careers, some of which have disastrous consequences.
Failing to show up. While there are occasions when not showing up for the job, or being late, can be justified, they are rare. If you are not there, you cannot perform, and you will not last in the job.
- Making it political. A certain amount of politics can be unavoidable, but losing focus on the task at hand in favor of the politics can be a career killer.
- Failing to keep up. Job skill requirements change very rapidly. The days of leaving education behind you as you left high school or college are behind you. Keep your skills current.
- Lacking a plan. You can’t know where you are going if you don’t know where you are headed. Have a plan for your career and review it occasionally.
- Arrogance: No one is irreplaceable. No one.
- By the numbers: Holding back effort that is not strictly called-for in the job description.
- Valuing cost-savings over effectiveness. Saving money is great; getting the job done is the requirement. Generally, you have to be able to do both, and it helps to know the difference.
- Failure to perform: Know the requirements of your job, perform them, or find help in so doing.
- Having all the answers: Sometimes better to ask the questions and be open to the possibility you don’t know everything.
- Hogging glory: Spread it around; it will come back to you and in the meantime, you’ll inspire the best efforts of those around you.
- Lying on a resume: Every year we see high-profile executives who lose their posts after disclosure of misstatements in their resume; this is unfortunately seen throughout the organization.
- Yes-men: Value the opinions of those around who you disagree with you.
- Hiding your light: Don’t be afraid to make a case for yourself.
- Failing to network: It takes a village to make a career.
- Inviting insanity: A famous philosopher once said that insanity begins with the belief that your work is incredibly important. Try to keep things in their proper perspective.
Careers are precious commodities, and they take many years of sustained excellence to build and maintain. And they can be derailed very quickly, so try to avoid some of the common missteps and avoid costly career errors.