Wambui's World

• Careers

  Posted: December 19, 2007, 7:22 pm by Wambui

  I read this interesting article today on how to avoid certain behaviors that lead to career sabotage. I realized that a lot of folks ...that I know are on the correct path to career sabotage.
  
  The number one thing that leads to career sabotage is not having a life plan. I usually call this a strategic plan for your life. I am constantly updating mine - I actually know its time to revisit my strategy when I start slacking off on my goals, become lax in my chores etc....the document that I created for myself is "business strategy' in itself. I write out my goals (long and short term) and break each goal into chunks that trickle down to my daily to do list. This way I know for sure that every day I am doing something that will lead me to achieving my long term goals. I incorporate a calendar and make sure every little chunks of my goal has a due date on it and I track it often. My strategy document also contains my vision and mission for my life. In short it keeps me focused. According to John McKee author of Career Wisdom "without a plan, we leave out successes in the hands of others who may or may not have time to look after other people's successes" (CNN, December 19, 2007) .
  
  Not keeping you skill set current is another major reason for career sabotage - with the business world as it is today, ever changing and more competitive than ever, it is imperative to stay "on top of your game". Best believe if there is someone in your department or group that can do what you do better, your azz is at risk. It is for this reason that I resolved to what I call my results driven career path plan - I work for corporate world like I am a business selling my services to them. I resolve to stay with the company for a term no longer than three years. Within those three years I will do all in my power to advance to a new position or department, or take on a major additional role every year. Basically I make sure I exceed expectations each year and move on to something else more challenging. Right before the three/ two years are up - I start getting myself out there with another organization....I have a list of organizations that I want to work for...I'm crazy like that...LOL
  
  Failing to deliver results is another way to sabotage ones career...like I said above....the goal is to create realistic achievable goals then work your hardest to knock their socks off with outstanding results that exceed their expectations. Its like show.biz......its all about the ratings..no one wants to hire or even retain staff with low ratings.....that's just extra baggage...
  
  Confusing efficiency with effectiveness - People people people - they are all human, CEOs, CFO.s basically all levels of leadership within an organization are made up of red blooded people....communicating in person is always the best, people remember you better by associating a face with a name.
  
  Irreplaceable myth - no one is irreplaceable - by now - EVERYONE should know that.....
  
  Do not be a know it all - learn to ask questions. this keeps one in the know additionally new ideas are generated through communicating with others through constructive discussions that arise when people ask questions
  
  The writer also discourages surrounding yourself with brown nosers. For obvious reasons you will never really get their real opinions - surround yourself with people that are honest and not afraid to state their opinions about matters in a constructive way.
  
  Toot your own horn....I often "blow my own trumpet" - not in an arrogant way but in a way that lets others know of my teams successes and the role that I played in them.
  
  Losing perspective - stuff happens - it happens all the time - life is not perfect.... true leaders have the ability to maintain their perspective regardless of the roadblocks they encounter along the way. I remember one time in my old organization - a colleague received an award for employee of the quarter and his team received team of the quarter for a project that the company spent tonnes of money on but the client decided against going with our company for the job. They got the award because the team was highly dedicated, maintained focus and cohesiveness despite having the deal with a myriad of issues including dealing teams across geographic boundaries, obviously different time zones with the potential client, across several lines of service to deliver a solution that portrayed our company as being seamless in providing solutions. Wouldn't you know it - the company built a center of excellence around that solution.
  
  I love such articles - they remind me of the stuff that I am made of....
  
  Ta!
  W

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