Are You Sabotaging Your Career? 5 Ways to Make Sure You Aren't

Though Alexandra Levit was a straight-A student, she freely admits her first job after college was a disaster.

"I had the attitude I had to be a VP by the age of 30, so at meetings I would talk and talk without deference to others," she says. "My first boss didn't like me, which made me visibly upset at work -- I'd burst into tears -- and I clashed with other colleagues."

But when Levit saw coworkers in the public relations agency with half her work ethic getting promoted ahead of her, she realized something was missing from her education foundation. She decided to take some personal development classes to improve her people skills.

"I thought it was all about the work you do, and wasn't concerned about the reputation I presented," said Levit, who credits a Dale Carnegie course her boss recommended with teaching her how to make a more positive impression and elicit more cooperation from others.

"It really did change my life," says Levit, author of "How'd You Score That Gig?" and "They Don't Teach Corporate in College," now a regular speaker at universities and corporations on workplace issues facing young employees. "This should be standard knowledge for every college senior."

Levit's early career mistakes -- overemphasizing technical proficiency at the expense of sales, strategic, people, and financial skills, and assuming she had already learned everything she needed to know to get ahead at work -- are just some of the many ways in which people unwittingly sabotage their career success. While she rebounded, others may not be so lucky.

Know Yourself

Self-awareness regarding your behavior and shortcomings is the most important challenge in any career development program -- without it, people keep their defenses and ignore helpful feedback, says Jason Seiden, president of Seiden & Associates, a coaching and management development firm, and author of "How to Self-Destruct: Making the Least of What's Left of Your Career," a tongue-in-cheek book on professional moves you shouldn't make.

Marginalizing yourself at work, boxing yourself into a job and shutting out opportunities to advance by making yourself indispensable, having an "entitlement complex," and using technology to your disadvantage -- like posting embarrassing photos of yourself or inappropriate comments about your employer or personal life online -- are all excellent ways to sabotage your career, notes Seiden, also an instructor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Accept Criticism

So is avoiding constructive criticism, which many workers disregard or misinterpret as insults or nastiness. When Seiden worked in his father-in-law's business some years ago, he came in eager to shake things up and told everyone what they were doing wrong. "I created a lot of friction. People were resisting me as I was pushing too hard and too fast. I got plenty of feedback but didn't interpret it right. We were talking past each other all the time."

Many people don't listen to criticism of their behavior from someone they have already typed as annoying, like a boss, but they believe remarks from someone they've already typed as worthwhile, such as a friend. Seiden says people behave this way because of the "fundamental attribution error," by which people explain behavior in terms of personality traits instead of the situation. "Because there is a tendency for humans to generalize about others from isolated observations, we are lousy judges of character," he says.

Keep Learning

The most destructive thing to do to your career is to think you're irreplaceable, says John McKee, a business coach in Los Angeles and author of "Career Wisdom."

"The ones who think they know all the answers become obsolete, as this usually means they're not keeping current with what they need to be successful in their industry."

Speak Up

Failure to self-promote is another career-killer, to which women are particularly susceptible, adds McKee, also author of "21 Ways Women in Management Shoot Themselves in the Foot."

"Women have a tendency to feel their work speaks for itself, while guys are likely to promote everything they do that's great. Thus, women are less likely to get promotions or raises, and if they get one, they accept it without a negotiation."

Get Out

Sometimes employees don't leave bad situations soon enough. The resulting stress takes a toll emotionally and physically, often infecting the person's ability to move on and perform well in interviews for new jobs, says Joni Carley, a business coach in Media, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, who cites an ad agency employee client who had trouble at work and was ultimately fired.

"If only she'd gotten her act together before she had too many wounds to lick," Carley notes. "She was always in state of discomfort, and those feelings just sabotaged her energy and her interest in life. She was bothered by all the cues but not acting on them, and it's self-sabotaging not to honor that."

Are You Sabotaging Your Career? Six Signs

Stealing office supplies and not going to staff meetings will undoubtedly diminish your chances of securing the biggest and best office. But besides these faux pas, there are other, less-obvious activities that can hamper your career prospects. Perpetually missing deadlines – even by only a day or two – for example, also can spell disaster. Here are six additional no-nos that you should avoid on the job:

1. Failing to follow through.
You may be the hardest worker in the company, but if your boss and colleagues cannot rely on you to deliver results as promised, you may be passed over for plum assignments. Build their confidence by arriving at meetings on time and keeping them informed if you're unable to meet project deadlines. More importantly, execute your tasks with enthusiasm and attention to detail. In order to garner greater responsibilities or a more coveted role in the organisation, you must produce quality work in addition to sticking to the schedule.

2. Refusing to admit your mistakes.
Creating an excuse to justify poor performance is dishonest and unprofessional. Plus, chances are your ploy won't stand the test of time. If you make a mistake, own up to it, then devise a plan for both correcting and avoiding similar incidents in the future. Employees who accept responsibility demonstrate professional maturity and confidence.

3. Becoming complacent.
Enthusiastic employees who are not afraid to take calculated risks and assume new responsibilities find themselves in a prime position for a promotion or raise. Conversely, those who simply serve their time often get lost in the organisation. If you are serious about moving ahead, always go the extra mile. In addition, take steps to keep your skills up to date. The more talents you put to work for the company, the more valuable you are to it.

4. Running on empty.
Working on overdrive can be just as dangerous to your career as simply getting by. While taking on new projects and responsibilities is a great way to expand your skill set, too much of a good thing can lead to burnout. If you're spending excessive hours on the job, you may want to speak to your manager about delegating less important tasks to colleagues or adjusting your workload. It's also a good idea to take breaks throughout the day. Just a few minutes spent on a break each hour can help you recharge your batteries and work more productively.

5. Being too modest.
While no one enjoys working with someone who has an overly inflated ego, it's alright to blow your own trumpet in the office once in a while. Not receiving the credit you rightfully deserve – either through oversight or confusion about who actually performed the work – may not only cause hurt feelings but also can hinder your career growth. If you've successfully completed a major project or received great feedback from a client, don't be afraid to bring it to your manager's attention. One way is to track your accomplishments in a weekly activity report to help keep your boss informed of your performance.

6. Damaging team spirit.
Despite your best efforts, you won't always get along with everyone on your team. But that doesn't mean you should be a killjoy or take every opportunity to vent your frustrations. You'll likely work with members of the group again and need their assistance, so keep relationships friendly. Positive attitudes are contagious, as are negative ones.

A major mistake isn't the only thing that can damage a promising career. Sometimes more subtle mistakes can compromise your professional standing. Avoiding these six career killers will keep your professional reputation out of harm's way and may even put you on the fast track to promotion.