You might not see the signs, but someone else probably does. And that could be your undoing.
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It could be your own doing and you may not know it. During the course of your career you will have peaks of success and valleys of unimpressive performance. That’s not unusual given that you could be in the workforce for anywhere between fifteen to forty years. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to have enduring success especially in a corporate environment.
The true test of your fortitude and perseverance is your reaction to a less than favorable work environment.
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A perfect situation can rapidly deteriorate as circumstances change. You get a new boss who is a notorious micro-manager thereby systematically stripping away your cherished autonomy. You are moved into a new role that isn’t utilizing your skills and expertise to there fullest therefore you feel marginalized and resentful. Your company and industry are going through hard times resulting in financial rewards and incentives that are meager, at best.
Without a doubt, this is the hardest time to stay on your game. The true test of your fortitude and perseverance is your reaction to a less than favorable work environment. It’s reflected in your work, your attitude, your motivation and your relationships. How do you know if you’re sabotaging your career? Here are a few signs.
1) You are procrastinating on a regular basis
Frustrated with your situation you find your motivation waning. You are waiting until the last minute to complete your work and more than likely it’s not your best. More time is spent more doing other inconsequential things (surfing the net, texting, complaining).
2) You do not present yourself as a team player
This often manifests as a partial or total disinterest in helping others or failing to maintain an open mind to the thoughts and suggestions of colleagues. Corporate environments don’t take kindly to the outliers. You either play for the team or you may not play at all.
3) You produce the bare minimum required for the job
You’re doing exactly what is asked and nothing more. You have adopted the “punch the clock” mentality. You do as your told and no longer add value. Over time, this will be noticed and hurt your reputation.
4) You see no need to build or foster office relationships.
In doing so, you may be unwittingly cutting off your flow of information and access to resources. Ironically, this is the time when nurturing relationships is vital in order to stem a stream of any behind your back criticisms.
5) A lack of respect for your job is reflected in your choice of attire.
Latent feelings of job frustration or boredom are frequently magnified by a sloppy, unkempt appearance at work. Outward appearances form lasting impressions. This is not the time to look sloppy and disheveled.
In all candor, a positive outlook is difficult to maintain when you feel discouraged, marginalized or put in a bad spot. But this is the time when you have to make a concerted effort to guard against sabotaging your career. If left unchecked you could be damaging your reputation and your future. You can only leverage your goodwill for so long.
There are three things you should focus on during a “bad” period.
1) Be consistent in your efforts.
Maintain a reputation reflecting integrity and purpose by continuing to put forth a valiant effort to do good work. Enthusiastically integrate within your new team or department – even if this means you have to adjust to them in order to make it work.
2) Give a less-than perfect workplace scenario your best shot.
Honestly assess whether you can make your current situation work, at least in the short term, before throwing in the towel. Find the positives in your situation and do your best to overcome the negatives.
3) Give careful thought before making a major job change or career move.
Consider networking with past colleagues within your company to see what they are doing, and to adequately assess the outlook for other opportunities before you decide to look for a job elsewhere.
Remember, a tough situation is never easy and usually not enjoyable but for most it’s only temporary.
I made the mistake of doing some of these things, especially # 1 and 2. I was part of the senior management team in a small company, but as the company grew more seasoned senior management was brought in above me. What had been a great situation rapidly deteriorated, and instead of rising to the challenge, I got frustrated and became miserable in my job. I worked out of my home office and the company offices were in a different state, so the dynamics with the other management and the rest of my team were even more challenging. In the… Read more »