Do people sabotage careers in the workplace intentionally? Believe it or not, sometimes, yes. However, in most circumstances individuals, even teams, do so without awareness or motive.
How do smart, talented, people sabotage their careers?
They deny, avoid, or get on the wrong side of workplace politics. Every workplace has politics. Most of it is benign and transparent. That said, if you are not alert to the who’s in and who’s out, who has the power of title, and who has the power of influence, can get the best of you and your career. Naivete or refusal to acknowledge can sabotage the plans for your career.
They misread the culture of the work environment. Every organization has a culture. Many work, some don’t, but in either instance, understanding how people disagree, reward, communicate, and behave under stress and with pressure is essential. Subtle things like who attends the holiday party, how e-mails start and close, and respecting the dress code all show either your respect and understanding of the culture or appear to be deaf to or defiant of it. New to a company and not sure of the culture? Go on a listening tour. Become an observant journalist. Ask co-workers, “How does _____ work here?”
They are adamant about their way of doing things. The workplace is constantly evolving. Things shift and change (sometimes radically and rapidly) often for the better. Act or be viewed as rigid and reactionary, and you’re asking for a label of “out of sync,” “not one of us,” or worse, “not part of our future.”
They fail to respect lower ranking employees. Step on people on the way up and they’ll spit on you on your way down. No one can succeed without the help and support of frontline support staff workers. They often have a clearer view of situations than you and they surely have the power to make things difficult, even miserable. Never get on the wrong side of the assistants, office managers, or receptionists. They can be your biggest supporter or your worst nightmare. Interact with all levels of staff. Get to know them as people. Ask their advice. (It’s generally very sound.) Show appreciation.
They misread shifting trends. Whether it is leadership, focus, ways of doing business, responses to global demands, or any other myriad of organic ways the world changes — organizations and their people must be alert, identify, and adapt to shifting trends. Refusal to do so or failure to notice is a way to sabotage careers. Get out of your chair and walk around. You will learn far more than you can imagine. Put the company and its top leaders on Google alert, and read what outsiders are saying about your organization and its competitors. Play devil’s advocate with yourself. Start with the hypothesis that everything you are doing is off trend. Can you prove yourself wrong?
They fail to maintain an internal support system. Saboteurs can see themselves as lone wolves. They “don’t need anyone,” “don’t want others in their business,” and several other short-sighted excuses. It is impossible to do and know everything. It’s also lonely. Have coffee with an assortment of people. Offer help. Ask for help. Volunteer for assignments outside your area of expertise. Get on a company-wide committee or focus group. Keep up relationships because you never know when you might need to call on one.
They abandon outside connections, mentors, and networks. It’s easy to sabotage your network simply by ignoring it. Create a networking plan and calendar. Commit to connecting with a specific number of people a month. Be the one who reunites a former group. Build your LinkedIn connections on a regular basis. Stay in touch with anyone who might be a reference or who would be open to have something “run by them.” It’s a discipline that pays back over and over.
They rely on outdated skills and knowledge. It’s simple – what you knew last year or even last month, may not be current today and might even be irrelevant tomorrow. Few employees take advantage of education benefits offered by their employer. They are leaving more than just money on the table. People who want to sabotage careers get overly confident or arrogant about what they know and the skills they have.
No one starts their day wanting to put their job or career at risk but many of us do so with our behavior. Self-sabotaging is evident in all aspects of the workplace. Considering some of the ways mentioned above, lowers your risk of being a victim of a sabotaged career.
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