It’s no secret most want to move forward in their careers. Receive that long-wanted promotion, receive more benefits and make more money. Everyone has career goals; although perhaps discussing them only with a significant other, closest friend or family member. And who can blame them? If they don’t reach those goals, there will be few to mention it or criticize them.
First – consider why you may not be moving forward as you planned?
- Are you subliminally resisting success?
Could you be avoiding work tasks which would prove your ability to do the job you want? Are you prone to project or task incompletion which may show you with lack of follow through? Is your work inconsistent – poorly organized one minute and perfectly organized the next? Have you been told certain skills require upgrading but you are dragging your feet to do so? If you are doing any of these things, or several, you may subliminally be resisting success.
Psychologists tell us subliminally resisting can mean you don’t feel qualified to do a particular thing. On the other hand, are you unwilling to take what you consider is a risk? For example, the promotion you believe you want may require supervising more employees, require added interaction with clients, the financial management of hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment.
Take Action:
First – identify what you are or may be resisting.
Second – Determine why you may be resisting.
Third – Consider how what you are resisting can be broken down into smaller sections or shared with others.
Fourth – Ask your boss or mentor for help.
Fifth – Decide what strategies your mentor or boss shared which you can use – immediately – to help you begin moving forward. Like registering for skills upgrade classes.
- Are you performing work or tasks you shouldn’t be?
This may sound a little crazy but many people do this; perhaps you are one. Whether someone handed you work to complete, on a temporary basis and you are still handling it or you took over a project to help someone else but haven’t given it back – whatever the reason performing work or tasks which aren’t part of your job description can be a way of showing management you are overworked and bogged down with projects and tasks which won’t prepare you for the promotion you believe you want.
Promotions won’t come your way unless you clean up your work act and begin performing tasks which clearly show you are the best person for it.
Take Action:
First – Regardless why you took on a particular project, return it. If the individual is unable to handle it, discuss it with your boss and determine who it can be handed off to.
Second – If you’re someone everyone believes will take on projects others don’t want, make a point to meet with your boss to discuss how to end and handle the situation.
Third – Regularly ask your boss for new projects or more important tasks which help show off your abilities and skills and prepare you for promotion.
- Are you setting aside work which must be done telling management you’ll eventually get to it?
Avoiding work, by setting it aside in favor of finishing easier projects, is different from avoiding it altogether. By setting it aside you accept the fact you received it and it must be done. However, by continuing to put it aside you tell management a variety of you negative things. For instance – you are unable to manage your work schedule. You don’t have the ability to prioritize. Or you ignore instructions preferring to complete work in your own time frame rather than as required. Remember – when considering people for promotions companies want people who not only are skills qualified but well organized, know how and when to prioritize. And, every importantly, know when to follow the rules.
Take Action:
First – Ask the individual handing you the work what priority it is?
Second – Discuss the time frame in which it must be completed. Mention other projects you are currently working on and determine what can safely be temporarily set aside. In short, get buy-in on it.
Third – Set a time to work on tasks you’ve had to set aside. For example the first hour after arriving.
Fourth – Type up a list of work, along with what you have completed, to refer to. Tell your boss where it’s located. This shows accountability.
If necessary, discuss your workload with your boss and determine if anything can be handed off to someone else or eliminated.
- You’re always late.
If you’re chronically late for work or meetings, it sends a strong signal you are not committed to the job. But that’s not all. By being late you also let your colleagues down. And suggesting you aren’t a team player. Bottom line – being habitually late is unprofessional. And can point to an individual who isn’t well organized.
Take Action:
1. Get yourself organized for work the next day by organizing it before leaving work.
2. If possible, pre-plan your week and that of your children.
3. Complete work you brought home early enough to allow for 8 hours of sleep.
4. Set your clock one hour earlier to ensure you rise with enough time to get out on time until you begin to naturally rise earlier.
5. If time allows, use weekends to begin organizing your next week.
Finally:
Be sure to seriously consider any reasons you may have for resisting a task, project or situation. You may have a good reason for doing so. That said, plan your schedule to help ensure projects are completed. Feel confident to negotiate changes of completion dates; after all, you want to do the best job. Maintain a list of projects and tasks; cross them off when done. Learn to say no; there will always be occasions on which it’s a necessity. Don’t be embarrassed or unwilling to ask for help. Sometimes the help you receive will be exactly the strategy you need to confidently move forward.
Submitted by: Admin
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What’s Holding You Back in Your Career?
