Workplace bullying, toxic bosses and office gossip can all derail a promising career but what happens when you sabotage your job prospects and stop your own career development? Here is some career advice to stop self sabotage in the workplace and get you firmly back on the road to success.
Not being a team player
We’ve all heard the saying there is no ‘I’ in team but being a team player is seen as very important in most workplaces. Working over a standard 40 hour week should not be standard practice. However, you will soon become very unpopular in the workplace if you leave on time every day and rely on your colleagues to take up the slack when an important project runs over time, an urgent order needs to be filled or overtime needs to be done.
Not attending work functions and events
Non-attendance at events like the Christmas work party is seen as a career killer. While it is not mandatory to spend time with colleagues over your standard forty hours of week, you may be seen more favourably in the eyes of your manager if you do. Ultimately, this all depends on your individual workplace culture. This should all be discussed at your initial interview so you know what is expected of you from the onset.
Not keeping your skill set up to date
It is important to keep up to date with new technologies, continuing education, going to seminars and reading industry blogs. You may want to ask your workplace to fund a new course or a conference but if they do not allow you to do this in case of budget restraints, any training directly related to your employment is tax deductable so keep all your receipts.
Staying in a job for too long
We can subconsciously sabotage our own career in staying in a job because it’s comfortable, you like your work colleagues and your manager but the work is not challenging or stimulating and you have reached a ‘career plateau’. A lot of the time career self sabotage comes from a fear of failure and we stay in our comfort zone rather than trying to take the next step in our career.
Burning your bridges
While all relish the thought of telling our toxic boss exactly what we think of them when we leave a job, the reality is that burning your bridges is never a good idea. Even if you are starting your own business or changing careers, you may take on a new client who knows your boss personally or apply for a job which requires a reference from your previous employer.
Don’t be your own worst enemy and stand in the way of your career. You may be subconsciously sabotaging your own career but recognising the signs is the first step to addressing the problem. Turn self-sabotage into self-empowerment to put you back into the driving seat and in control of your career.