10 Potentially Fatal Career Traits – Part 2

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Don’t forget to check out 10 Potentially Fatal Career Traits – Part 1.

Last week we took a look at some of the pitfalls to look out for as you plot your course along your chosen career path. In this second article we take a closer look at another five obstacles that could spell trouble, and ways you can navigate your way around them.

• Not setting clear goals: if you don’t have a destination in mind before you leave, you have practically no chance of ending up where you want to be. Set yourself measurable, achievable objectives and plan your daily activities around reaching them. Manage your priorities and focus on tasks that move you towards your defined goals.
• Fear of failure: a "can-do" attitude and a willingness to take risks is a must if you want to get ahead with your career. Sitting quietly at your desk, well within your comfort zone won’t get you noticed, and will soon bore you to tears. Challenge yourself, believe in your own ability and embrace opportunities to stretch yourself at work. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes — mistakes are an opportunity to learn, and remember that being risk-averse can be much more damaging to your career than the occasional error.

• Office romance: office romances are generally a bad idea. Getting into a relationship with your boss can introduce all sorts of complications at work, and can mean your achievements or promotions are viewed suspiciously by co-workers; if you get involved with a subordinate you could be inviting charges of sexual harassment if things go wrong. If the relationship ends badly (and they often do) everyone at work will witness the inevitable fallout.
• Letting your image slip: like it or not, people make first impressions about you based on your appearance and conduct. Rightly or wrongly, what you look like at works can have a real impact on your career. The people you meet every day read all sorts of things into the way you present yourself. Make sure you dress appropriately for work, and look after your appearance. Remember, your image is about more than your clothes and personal grooming: it’s about the way you behave and communicate with others too.
• Indiscretion: Gossip is an inevitable part of workplace politics, but discretion is always the best policy. Always remember that office corridors, hallways, lifts, stairwells, bathrooms, and even the bus on the way to work, are public places where what you say can be overheard. Always be mindful of what you say to whom, and where you say it.

We’ve listed ten common things that can potentially damage your career…and some suggestions on how to counter them. There are of course many more.

While focussing on the positive things you can do every day to help your career progress is crucially important, it also pays to take a look at yourself with a critical eye from an employers perspective every now and again. Try and identify any negative traits that could be holding you back at work, and come up with strategies to counter them.

Turning those negatives into positives could help your career along no end.

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