Some professionals manage to really hit the ground running in their careers, getting an entry level job and swiftly working their way up through an organization. Then, after some time, things can begin to slow down, and many people can wind up feeling that they may have hit a wall in their career. If this sounds all too familiar, you need to get to the root of what’s caused this rut. Here are a few ways you could be holding yourself back from the next big step in your career…
You’re Lacking in Confidence
Obviously, if you don’t have enough confidence in yourself, it’s going to be a major barrier through the whole of your career. Some people may feel too afraid to apply for a more senior position in their current company, thinking that you don’t stand a chance of getting it anyway, so there’s no point in trying. You might be worried about the possibility of making a bad decision when trying to go beyond your responsibilities, and getting fired for it. Others will have a deep-set need for constant approval from their boss before they follow through on their own initiative. It may not always seem like it, but good employers are much more likely to value workers who aren’t afraid to break the mold and take risks at work if they think they have a better way of working around an issue. As long as you have good reasons for your actions, and know that you can back them up, you’ve got nothing to worry about!
You’re Procrastinating
This is probably the most prevalent thing holding back promising individuals from achieving their big dreams. We’re all guilty of procrastination and lapses in discipline at some point, but if you’ve let this become too much of a normal thing in your life, it could be the big obstacle holding you back from the next major step in your career. If you’re always saying “maybe next week”, it’s time to take a step back and assess whether your attitude to work in general is what’s driven your career into a rut. There’s always going to be come kind of excuse for not checking out dental assisting schools, for not signing up to a distance-learning coding course, for not going for that promotion that’s just opened up at your work. If you want to further your career, and there’s a clear way of doing this, then do it now! Sure, there’s no certainty in how successful you’re going to be, but you’ll never know if you don’t pursue it!
You Never Come Out of Your Shell
While people who spend too much time on trivial chatter never make it far at work, if you never come out of your shell, this can often be just as bad. Sure, some people are naturally introverted, but it’s still important to go out of your way and reach out to others at work. Business is all about building great relationships, after all! By making a point to talk to your co-workers and higher-ups more often, you’ll become happier and more engaged with the day-to-day goings-on at your business, and you’ll begin to have more influence over the people you work with. Perhaps most importantly, if you go from being known as a shy, quiet person around the office to someone who’s really plugged into the social dynamic, your boss will be impressed. This kind of change shows that you’ve developed great teamwork skills, and also leadership potential in the respect that you’ll garner from others at the business. Sociability is just one more reason for your boss to give you that big promotion!
Perfectionism
Some degree of perfectionism, when it’s applied to the right projects and situations, can be a major help to your career progress. Giving it your all to make sure you hit targets in the most direct and efficient way possible will set you apart as a real asset to the company. However, if you have a strong perfectionist mindset in every little task that you perform, it can really hold you back. If you strive to get everything perfect all the time, it will mar your efficiency, and cause major delays in your work. “Decent and complete” will beat “perfect so far” in almost any piece of work, so don’t let a tendency towards perfectionism get in the way of your career progress. Go above and beyond what your boss has asked of you, sure. Just don’t turn things in late time after time!
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