Mistakes are common in life, and they can be costly depending on the situation. Most times, these mistakes are borne out of various reasons such as inexperience, ignorance, sheer stubbornness to repeat errors, and some can be because of being unable to learn or be teachable, and so on.
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Mistakes are unavoidable in our personal or professional lives. However, some mistakes can sabotage your future if you fail to address them on time. In this article, we shall point out these career mistakes, so that we can steer clear of them.
Mistake 1: Failing To Develop Your Leadership Skills Continually
Most often, competent career persons do fall into the trap of complacency when it comes to developing their skills. They often believe that what got them there, will keep them there. For example, you have been promoted from Head of Department to Chief Operational Officer in a company, on the account of competence and skills; there is every possibility of being too busy to continue developing your leadership skill. Sometimes, you might think that the skill that got you there will keep you there, or with time your leadership skills will develop naturally. Thinking this way will sabotage your career. Therefore, you must continually develop your leadership skills by employing the services of leadership coaches, mentors, books, and other materials to help you appreciate your strengths and weaknesses, and build your confidence.Mistake 2: Thinking That Knowing All Things And Doing Everything Will Make You Successful
One of the biggest career mistakes to make is to believe that you have to know all things and do all things to be successful. Being multi-talented is a good thing, but it can be a distraction if you aren’t careful. When you want to get involved in all things, you are setting up yourself to fail. Being a jack-of-all-trades and master of none can be one of the greatest career undoings. People who want to do all things and be all things can fall into the trap of being a micromanager. Furthermore, people can see you as a threat to teamwork and might not want to work with you. Therefore, it is advisable and wise to develop expertise in one field.Sign up to the Connect Nigeria daily newsletter
Mistake 3: Not Having A Work-Life Balance
Commonly, you want to put all the hours into your job to attain success. While this might sound nice, it can be tragic if you don’t have a work-life balance. Thinking that the longer hours you work will guarantee a successful career is a grave mistake to make. The idea is not in the quantity of time, but in the quality of what happens during those working hours. There are a lot of talented individuals who are workaholics with nothing to show for it. This is not to undermine hard work. However, learn to work smart by creating a work-life balance. Find time to take a break, exercise, eat the right food, have a social life, meditate and make time for your family. These periods are indispensable and they go a long way in building your body and spirit. Never neglect your health, otherwise, you find yourself spending more money and time in the hospital.Mistake 4: Falling Victim Of Multiple Interest Syndrome (FIS)
The problem of multiple interest syndrome (FIS) often plagues business people with an entrepreneurial mindset, because they possess the qualities. These people are highly motivated; they are easily enticed by new technology and the need to develop. They are ambitious and go-getters. They set their mind to achieve whatever they want. They are constantly chasing something new. This month, they are into stock trading, the next, they are into consulting, and another time, they are into programming. They want to own an AgriTech company, a Fintech startup; the next, they offer IT solutions to companies. This attitude is their greatest undoing. They are prone to starting and abandoning projects midway. Worst still, they can easily derail from careers. Multiple Interest Syndrome, also known as Shiny Object Syndrome, is one of the biggest mistakes that can sabotage your career. Pursing multiple and diverse opportunities is very fatal for anyone’s career.Mistake 5: Burning Bridges
In the professional world, burning bridges is the biggest mistake you can ever make. Never leave any organization without the proper exit procedure. Even if you feel less appreciated or aggrieved, never exit badly, but ensure you leave in a way that can make you confident and at peace, even when you run into your ex-employer or co-workers. Ensure that your reputation remains unstained throughout your professional life. Chances are that you might need a recommendation from an ex-employer. Featured Image Source: Inc. MagazineGot a suggestion? Contact us: editor@connectnigeria.com
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