30 Common Mistakes that could Sabotage Your Career

Do you find yourself in a career that just seems to be going nowhere? Are you often the person being pushed into the dead-end or low-impact jobs? Are you dispensable? When companies down-size, do you often find yourself the victim of retrenchment? Are you truly adding value in your career or are you unconsciously (or consciously) making mistakes that could be sabotaging your career?

Below is a list of common mistakes that employees tend to make that often result in them being considered dispensable.

1. Getting involved with office politics or becoming the topic of office gossip.

2. Always working late at night to get tasks completed on time. Learn to prioritize.

3. Only ever volunteering for trivial or low-impact tasks.

4. Avoiding taking on challenging projects. Attempt challenging tasks where possible.

5. Allowing other colleagues to boss your around (especially when they are not your boss).

6. Often discussing personal issues at work. Keep your personal life separate to work.

7. Frequently displaying emotional outbursts at the office as a result of something personal or work-related.

8. Crying at work is a sign of weakness. Go to the bathroom and cry in private if you must.

9. Become defensive when management offers constructive criticism). Never take it personally.

10. Pinching office pennies (or stationery) even once is unacceptable.

11. Asking for everyone else's approval before making a decision on your own.

12. Focusing too much energy on being liked by everyone at any cost, even if it means losing respect.

13. Generally you are not liked and don't care if anyone like's you at all.

14. Being perceived as bossy as opposed to assertive.

15. Telling your boss how to do his or her job. Suggestions are not the same as implying to your boss that he isn't doing his job correctly.

16. Using foul language in the workplace with little or no regard for those around you.

17. Flirting with colleagues (or bosses).

18. Tolerating sexual harassment (even if it does not involve you but you are aware of it).

19. Over-decorating your office (or brining child-like toys, gizmo's or gadgets to display in your office).

20. Offering a limp handshake when being introduced to someone new in the workplace (or to clients).

21. Coming late to work (or late for meetings).

22. Staying off work too frequently for trivial aches and pains.

23. Skipping meetings.

24. Being invisible (you only speak when spoken to).

25. Talking without thinking or talking too fast or often without getting to the point.

26. Communicating to your colleagues and managers mostly via email because you are too shy to discuss matters face-to-face.

27. Dressing inappropriately at the office or outside of what is considered normal for the workplace.

28. Being a non-conformist to make a point. You can make a statement or be a leader without being a rebel.

29. Grooming in public. Don't put your lipstick on or comb your hair in front of colleagues, managers or clients.

30. Failing to make eye-contact. Look people in the eye when talking to them, it is a sign of confidence.

Author: Gillian Meier, CEO of Jobs.co.za

Tags