How Employees Can Ruin Their Career Success
Career Failures Don’t Plan, Always Complain, & Refuse to Work Hard
Jul 1, 2009
Ask most people and they will say that they want to know the magic behind having a successful career, yet they are afraid or unsure about what it takes to achieve career success. They’ll read the latest self-help book on motivation or career strategy, attend career seminars and motivational lectures, or sign up for management classes at the local university. Yet, as inspired and excited as they become, they are at a loss as to how to move their career forward, so they are doomed to never learn.
Are they failures? Maybe so, but Tom Peters (and others since) embraces failure as necessary and something to be rewarded, because in the right situation it inspires innovation and learning. That being said, now is the time for employees who refuse to accept career defeat and failure to become innovative and learn what prevents them from having successful careers.
Career Failures Never Plan for Career Success
Employees should not expect to have a successful career if they don’t plan to have a successful career. After all, how can employees know they are where they want to be if they never knew where they were going in the first place? That means that the best way to make a career happen is to have a destination in mind and a road map of how to get there.
The most successful career planning comes when employees determine their likes, dislikes, wants and desires combine these with their interests and hobbies as well as their best skills and abilities to identify careers that match. For instance, someone who loves sports and plays regularly and is good at sales is more likely to enjoy a career as a sports equipment sales rep than a sales rep for another product.
Career Failures Regularly Complain About Everyone Else’s Career Success
Employees who sit in the back of the room watching their coworkers reap the glory and shine in the limelight should not blame others for their own career bad luck. Pointing fingers, grousing, and staring holes through those who find career success does not endear people to others.
Actually, complaining about anything is not a good quality, whether it is a coworker’s skyrocketing career or how the company handles a policy or project. People like to work around positive, upbeat coworkers and want their teammates to be generous, creative and pleasant to be around. The only way employees can find career success is to be supportive of those who get there before them and then learn from them.
Career Failures Refuse to Take the Steps Necessary for Career Success
Employees who are sitting at their desks diligently putting in their eight hours and hoping that someone might notice are deluding themselves if they think their actions will lead to career success. Sure there are those who believe, “Slow and steady wins the race.” And many a methodical and steady worker has risen to the next rung on the ladder; however, usually only because of dumb luck.
Career experts routinely discuss the importance of not just planning a career, but then taking every opportunity presented to move it forward. That may mean studying up on current events, joining a professional association, getting a mentor, finishing a college degree, volunteering to take on a challenging assignment or project or any other strategy to move a career forward.
The whole idea is that career success lies in each person’s hands. Yes, other people can help make things happen, too. However, it’s up to the individual to know what he wants and get the ball rolling.
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