Black Collegian Career Center

You’re bright and ambitious, with plenty to offer any organization. Naturally, you expect to move ahead with lightening speed. To prevent anything from slowing you down, avoid the following career paralyzers:

"We-They" Thinking Toward Management

Referring to management as "they" (i.e. "they don’t know what they’re doing," "why did they make this decision?" etc.) is disloyal. "They" are your leaders and "they" have every right to expect your full support. If you can’t do so, it’s time to either change your attitude or your employer.

Taking Advantage of Company Policy

Nobody appreciates a person who takes advantage of situations, and your employer is no exception. Using sick time indiscriminately, conducting personal business during company time, and "fudging" on expense reports are all opportunist activities that are sure to hurt your career.

Behaving Like A Professional Critic

Does your organization have problems? Don’t feel alone! Every company has soft spots. The key is how well employees work together to resolve them. Do you want to be known for your ability to change things for the better, or for your whining skill? Hint: Whiners do not get very far in world-class companies!

Taking Credit For Other’s Ideas

People are sensitive about their ideas, and will surely pick up on it if you try to steal them. This bad habit can create untold resentment from your co-workers. Is it worth the price you will pay? A better tactic is to generate a few great ideas of your own. And don’t neglect to give enthusiastic credit where credit is due.

Refusing To Set Goals

If you neglect to set your career goals, who will? We all know goals are important. And yet, surprisingly, only a very small percentage (estimated at 5%) of people actually write them down to remind themselves of their intentions daily. Not setting goals means you don’t have focus—a flaw that surely will slow down your career.

Dropping The Ball

The best of intentions have hurt many careers. Biting off more than you can chew is a common tendency for ambitious people. Sure, your heart is in the right place, but the damage to your credibility when you miss deadlines is huge. The best advice is to make promises sparingly—and be sure to keep them.

Using Profanity

Consider the vast number of words in the English language. Now, compare that to the small group that could be classified as profanity. It’s rather uncreative to insist upon using them when there are so many other choices, isn’t it? Rather than risk offending those you work with, stay away from profanity and express your thoughts in a more professional manner.

Fading Into the Background

Corporate America is full of people who quietly do a good job every day and wonder why they aren’t further ahead. To move forward, you have to be noticed. Don’t be afraid to take risks, get out of your comfort zone, and toot your horn occasionally. Management likes shakers and movers, and they are invariably the ones who end up getting promoted.

Not Supporting Your Team

Have you ever worked with someone who didn’t have the best interests of the team in mind? It was quickly apparent, wasn’t it? This behavior creates unnecessary tension—and resentment. Troublemakers who undermine their own team cannot be trusted. Without this foundation of integrity, how can they expect career success?

Failing To Take Care of the Customer

Most customers leave companies because of lack of concern. People won’t stay in one place long if they don’t feel valued. Make sure you are never the cause of ill will between your company and a customer. When it comes right down to it, they are the boss. And they can fire everyone in your company by taking their business elsewhere.

Dodging Responsibility

Developing the reputation of being "Teflon man or woman" won’t help your career. You’ll be thought of this way if nothing sticks to you. Are you too busy blaming others and making excuses to admit your own mistakes? There is no shame in missing the mark occasionally. After all, that’s how people learn. Be sure you take ownership when it happens, however.

Allowing Your Moods To Take Control

Moodiness is not a trait of professionals. Nobody likes the feeling of walking across a mine-field. If you behave unpredictably when it comes to moods and emotions, people will soon begin to avoid you. It is a poor reflection on your self-discipline if you are prone to bad moods or behave impulsively. How can you expect to be given more responsibility at work if you cannot handle your own emotions?

Avoiding these dirty dozen will help your career advance much further. As an added bonus, you are sure to find your job more rewarding.

Kathy Simmons is a Director of Claims and Administration in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a frequent contributor of career-related articles to a number of publications.