Workplace Habits That Hold You Back

What’s standing in the way of your advancement? Do you feel like you’re ready for more responsibility and compensation?

You may feel like your bosses overlook your efforts and impact. You show up on time and do what you’re supposed to do. You feel like you tick all the boxes but can’t get ahead.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle is you. Your workplace habits could be holding you back.

Disfunction habits “interfere with the leader’s ability to build and maintain high-performance teams, Psychologists Eric Nelson and Robert Hogan wrote in International Coaching Psychology Review.

Promotion and advancement are about more than technical skills. You may notice those who do get ahead may not be an Excel wizard or ERP guru. But they seem to have something that their superiors value.

Maybe It’s time for some self-examination.

Here are some workplace habits holding you back. Each of these behaviours may be acceptable in small doses. You’ve gone too far when they rise to your boss’s attention.

Oversharing/Gossip

Sharing too much personal information about yourself or other people can make your coworkers uncomfortable. It can also call into question your professional judgement. That doesn’t mean you can’t talk about your personal life, what you did on the weekend, your favourite show or movie or whatever. It does mean you should maintain professional boundaries.

It’s similar to someone having an intimate conversation via speakerphone on the subway. Nobody wants to hear it. Be self-aware. You may not cross the line to get HR involved, but this kind of behaviour can lead to your bosses passing you over for opportunities.

Personal Use of Company Assets

Unless you’re the social media manager, spending hours on your personal social media is a no-no. The same goes for online shopping and other diversions. It’s not so much the misuse of company assets—although that can be a problem—it’s about the misuse of your time.

Sure, there are occasions when it seems like there’s nothing to do. But those who set themselves up for advancement know how to make productive use of downtime.

Not Taking Responsibility

No one likes to admit they made a mistake or didn’t reach a goal. It’s easy to try to shift the blame. Other departments didn’t cooperate; the budget was too small, and I was too busy. Sure, some excuses are valid. Don’t exaggerate the negative or fall into a victim mentality. Good leaders take ownership of their actions and results. Ask for guidance before it’s too late.

Perfectionism

People who strive for perfectionism often fail because they don’t accomplish much. You may not finish a task because you don’t see it as good enough. Check with bosses and colleagues about the standards they expect. Perfectionism can sabotage your work as a team member. Coworkers may be alienated by your inability to get your part of the project done. Often, something that’s 80% done or correct at the right time is good enough.

Not Being Assertive

Stand up for yourself —don’t be afraid to make waves. If you have input on a decision or a project, speak up before it’s too late. The ability to present your opinion and persuade others to adopt it is critical in showing that you’re ready for advancement.

Don’t be afraid to promote your work and your accomplishments. Results matter more than effort. Let your managers know when you go above and beyond your everyday work and add value.

Being Too Negative

Constantly complaining about new projects, your boss’s jokes, IT problems or whatever creates an unpleasant environment around you. Snarky jokes may get a laugh but will hurt your reputation. Leaders help create a positive workplace. Again, it goes back to your professional judgement. What might you say about the company to clients or vendors?

Being Disorganised

If you’ve visited a C-suite executive’s office, they usually have a clean desk. Of course, they also probably have an assistant who handles things for them. Take your cues from them when possible. In the midst of a big project, you might have stacks of folders on your desk. But make sure to clear them off when you’re done. A messy desk makes you look like a mad scientist who may be a subject matter expert but isn’t ready to manage people and projects.