How many great opportunities have passed you by? Why have you missed out? All too often, you are the obstacle to your career progression. How do you self-sabotage? Here, I explore some of the reasons you may be your own worst enemy and how to get out of your own way in order to succeed.
Six career-limiting beliefs
1. You’re a perfectionist
The perfection trap sets you up for failure. If you believe you need to meet each criterion in a Person Specification before applying, the only jobs you’ll apply for will be pretty much the same job you’re already doing. Often, just good enough skills will get you through the door. Investing in further training can help to close the gap once you start a job.
This trait means that women in particular, will hold themselves back from applying for promotional opportunities. Men are more likely to take a chance and perhaps won’t take rejection as personally. I would always encourage you, especially if the job excites you, to give it a go. After all, what’s the worst that can happen?
2. You feel your good work should speak for itself.
Sadly, that’s not the case when it comes to applying for jobs. Unless you have a boss who actively encourages you to apply for a promotion, you’ll need to ensure others are aware of the excellent work you do when applying for jobs.
This is not the same as bragging about your work. When you’re applying for jobs, you’ll need to illustrate your skills. Make sure you provide evidence of the impact you’ve made. This can be expressed qualitatively or quantitatively.
For example:
‘Installed a new AI software package which reduced the time taken to process referrals by 20%.’
‘Delivered presentations to academic staff on embedding employability, leading to collaboration and implementation of a bespoke programme for 230 Y1 History students.’
Notice I didn’t need to use any superlatives in the examples above; the accomplishments speak for themselves without embellishment.
At the interview, be prepared to elaborate on your skills and achievements. Don’t downplay them and don’t talk about “we”- talk about “I.” Omit the words “just” or “only.” Practice recording your answers to possible interview questions before the interview to iron out any of these tendencies.
3. Networking makes you feel queasy
Perhaps the issue is less to do with networking and more to do with your perception of it. While extroverts will indeed have an easier time networking, instead consider how you might approach networking on your terms.
For networking in person, rather than assuming you must ‘work the room’, simply approach one person who smiles or appears friendly. Trust me, I’ve made some great connections this way. You never know who you’ll meet. It’s not a numbers game- think quality, not quantity. Your aim is to not to get something from the other person. Focus on listening and asking questions. Most people will be happy or even relieved that someone is interested in what they have to say.
Online, through LinkedIn, connect with people with similar roles and interests. Don’t, however, simply ‘like and lurk’. Comment on others’ posts. Share useful articles or your opinion with your connections. Over time, you can become a go-to person in your area of work or interest- someone others turn to for advice and wisdom. Let go of any fear that you’re being judged. Build your community – or ‘tribe’, as I like to call it, organically. See my recent post on how to use LinkedIn effectively.
4. You need to know what you want to do before you choose a career
You believe successful people have a master plan, when in fact most careers are built through trial and error. You don’t need to know your life’s purpose before you get started in a career. If you wait for the ‘perfect job’ to come along, you’ll be waiting a long time. Most careers are not pre-planned or linear. How many people do you know who said from an early age, “It’s always been my ambition to work in University Professional Services Admissions”, for example? Take opportunities because they make you curious or simply because you need a job. Then start to learn what you like/dislike and what’s important to you and pivot from there.
5. You’re comfortable where you are
You love the people you work with and enjoy coming to work. Some of your colleagues are also your friends. You can’t imagine being happy working in a different department. Time passes, and before you know it, you’ve been in the same role for several years. You’ve prioritised comfort over progression. At some points in your career, that can be exactly what you want and need. However, unless you’re continuing to stretch and grow in your role, might you be limiting your career capabilities?
Don’t miss out on career progression opportunities by becoming too comfortable. The longer you stay in a role, the harder it is to contemplate change. If your organisation restructures to save money, will your role be vulnerable? Other teams with nice people in them do exist. Who knew?!
6. You feel you can’t compete with younger workers
Age-related limiting beliefs can prevent you from considering career development opportunities. You’re never too old to learn new skills. Over time, AI will, replace some roles, but many jobs will require humans with AI skills. Adopting a can-do mindset and being open and flexible to learning new skills will ensure you remain employable regardless of your age.
It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.
Dennis Waitley