The Top 5 Ways You’re Sabotaging Your Career

It pains me to say it friend, but I hear it all the time. I get calls, DMs, or comments in passing that people are feeling stuck, frustrated, and scared to change in their careers. They tell me about what their boss did, or how the system is working against them, even that they aren’t empowered to make changes. The truth is though that most of them are making at least 3 out of 5 of the same mistakes. Many of them are making all five. This is the perfect storm. I’m curious if you’re in it too. Are you sabotaging your career?

But first, a very relatable story

Recently I was talking to a member of the team, we’ll call her Irritated Ida. Ida was particularly irritated that day because she felt like she’d been passed over for a promotion. She had been working very hard for the past year with little more than a peep coming from her. Her nose was constantly to the grindstone, and she had churned out some truly amazing work. Ida was building processes, reports, creating communications, and filling in for her boss from time to time. Ever humble, when someone would notice and ask about the level of work she was completing, she’d mostly downplay it.

There was no denying that she was doing well. I asked her about her relationship with her boss and the rest of her upline. How is the relationship going there? Great! She told me. Ida worked well with her boss and responded with value to every single request and question she got. Usually, she’d respond to emails within minutes. I asked if she had any connections to who her boss reported to. She said yes, some, usually in chat. Ida kept that chat window open at all times so she never missed one that needed response.

So what on earth was going on? Did anyone else have ideas?

I said, Wow, that sounds like a lot to keep up with, but you seem to be doing it. Have you gotten any feedback from your boss, peers, or mentors on the situation? Ida looked at me like I had a minimum of 3 heads. First off, she was sure she shouldn’t bring this complaint to her boss. He knows all of the work Ida’s been doing, what would she even say? And sharing with peers and mentors? She confessed she’d vented once or twice to a coworker, but they don’t really know what she does or the work she puts in. How would they give her feedback.

Ida, you’re totally sabotaging your career

First off, I’ll give a little credit where it is due. Ida was definitely doing good work. She really was running circles around the expectations of her job. This is great, except not if you’re not actually sharing it. Then, Ida seemed like she was always available. Again, this sounds like a good thing, except that (as any woman with kids knows) this is how people start taking advantage of you. It’s difficult to wrap your head around in the work world so keep kids on your mind. If you’re always there to get the juice, answer the question, find the missing homework, etc you know that the kid will start depending on you to do it and not appreciate that you took care of it. The same is true for work.

Because of the way she was structuring her time, Ida was so focused on constantly being there and not on sharing what she was working on. Again, she was doing quality work, which is always #1. Coming in a very close second however is sharing that quality with those it will impact. Ida wasn’t telling anyone. She didn’t share with those she could be helping long term with the great work product, helping them understand and make the best use of it. She also didn’t share with a mentor that could help her bring her work to the next level. If I’m honest, I don’t think she even knew herself all of the great work she had completed. Remember the look of three heads she gave me? I’m confident part of that was because she knows quantity of work, but doesn’t have her own grasp of the value she’s adding.

So, how can you keep from sabotaging your career?

It’s so common for people to go their whole 30-40 years living like Ida. They feel overwhelmed and overworked without getting credit for what they’re putting into their jobs. It’s time to take a proactive approach. Stop making these self-sabotaging mistakes and step out into a feeling of empowerment and freedom in your work.

Stop living in your email

Check your email a couple of times a day and respond in strings with many people only as much as you can add value to the conversation, not noise. Silence and patience can be a great sign of wisdom and maturity. We’ve all fallen into the trap of felling like we need to be right or heard. I know there is a time and place to make your mark but the group sting in your email box very likely isn’t it.

Stop making chat the top priority

This is a different but similar message, check your Slack a few times a day as well. There are great reasons to keep a conversation in chat but living there is like always finding the missing shoe or snack or whatever for a middle schooler while you want to be cleaning the house. Sure, you might get a few things done but nothing like you would have if you focused. Not to mention, that other person appreciates the help much more when it isn’t constantly available.

Stop taking your work for granted

I could just shake people by the shoulders sometimes on this soap box. The work you do matters, and it is great. Keep track of it. Whether you keep an email folder of the projects you’ve impacted or a running list in your computer or a journal, track the work. There is no reason for you to hide it away from others least of all yourself.

Stop keeping your work to yourself

Start practicing sharing what you’re working on with your manager, mentor, and champion. Make it a new habit to bring three things you’re working on that you want to share status and impact to every meeting. Talk about what you learned and how your work could improve efficiency or compliance. Share if there is a larger scale way to use what you’re doing now. This will feel uncomfortable at first but this communication is invaluable in moving your career forward. One way to do this if you’re uncomfortable is to use a framework to help you feel organized and ready. Grab a copy of the development guide template here to help you organize your thoughts and who you’ll share with.

Stop keeping your circle small

Venting with your bestie is a necessity from time to time. Collaborating with others that can benefit from your work and you from there’s is next level. This will help you to grow in two ways. First, you are adding value to other people. They will be able to build and grow from the work you’re putting out. Then, you’re also building further friendships. These are people who can not only be an ear for you when needed, but also help you move forward when you’re stuck based on their skills and ability to add value to you.

Even if you sound just like Ida, and have for the past decade, you can stop sabotaging your career today. Stop those bad habits and take on a new practice instead. You’re going places friend, and we don’t need you to get in your own way of that.