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Setting yourself apart in your career can be difficult, but there are a few things that will put you in the back of the pack. If you want to become the best at what you do, you need to build good habits and ditch bad habits... well... like a bad habit!
Between my time in HR, my current time as a recruiter and career coach, I wanted to share what I have found to be 5 things that will put you dead last in your profession.
The good news: you can decide TODAY... to make changes moving forward.
1. Always Saying Yes
While I’m not encouraging insubordination, I’m advocating for an awareness of your daily agenda. As I talked about earlier this month on my blog for Moms, not being able to say no comes from unhealthy people-pleasing tendencies and can pull you away from YOUR passions.
If you're being pulled away from your passions, you're being pushed toward a career that leaves you unsatisfied.
2. Not sticking to your schedule.
If you don't stick to your schedule, you're giving power to your distractions. As things creep in and demand your attention, you start to follow them rather than your itinerary. Now, instead of following a plan, you're following whatever is asking for your attention.
Instead of being preoccupied, tackle the day with purpose. Put up a 'Do Not Disturb' sign- literally, on your apps, IM, Teams, Outlook, etc. and physically tape a sign to your office door, cubicle wall, or home office door- whatever it takes!
3. Not Speaking With mentors.
Notice I said mentors - plural. A good mentor does not have to work at your current organization. In fact- it’s probably better if they don’t so you can have candid conversations about your growth.
What makes a good mentor?
A mentor is someone you trust, a professional confidant whose opinion you value. A mentor doesn't have to be older than you, but they should be able to provide you with unique, valuable, and trustworthy information. I have many mentors that are my "go to" on a variety of challenges I face in my business and with clients.
4. Not having a network.
If you are not leaving your office at least once a week to meet up by phone or in person, then are missing out on simple growth experiences. People learn best from other people and gain valuable insights from human connections that you cannot otherwise find in a blog, social post or otherwise.
Many networking strategies involve business cards and job hunting, but networking should be so much more than that! Networking isn't about finding a job - it's about gathering information. Go get lunch with someone you want to learn from, go walk your dog with your boss. Seek new experiences to meet new people- both within and outside of your day job/career.
5. Stopped trying to learn.
If you want to lead the pack in your career, always be learning. That doesn't mean you have to be learning about your career. 80% of CEOs now believe that the need for new skills is their biggest business challenge. By choosing to learn new skills outside of your field, you are bringing a unique perspective to your role that makes you stand out.
The benefits of learning...
Learning is good for your career, but its also good for your health. Harvard Business Review found that learning new skills with older age can improve your memory, and reading can delay Alzheimer's symptoms.
Make a habit of regularly consuming new information and learning new skills - whether it be
daily podcasts, daily articles, weekly webinars or monthly workshops. This is so obtainable with current technology that there really is no excuse not to schedule this into your week.
Ready to stop floating through your job, your days, your week? Been wanting to level up your career or figure your next move? We offer a free informational strategy session for anyone curious about how Career Development Advisors can help them own their career.