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Career Limiting Mistakes

A career limiting mistake is one that limits your employment or your potential for advancement.  You can avoid many mistakes by following these rules:

  • Respect the fact that there needs to be professional distance between you and your subordinates and between you and your manager.
  • When you disagree with your manager, ask if your manager wants another perspective. If they answer no, do as you were instructed to do - unless the instructions are illegal, immoral or hazardous to you or others.
  • Recognize that what your manager says is not always what they mean. For example, the phrase: "Please try to complete this assignment as soon as possible" probably means: Do it Now!
  • Never complain about your manager at work.
  • Never go behind your manager’s back.  There is usually very little upside when you try an end run around our boss.
  • Always complete assignments on time.
  • Arrive early for meetings with your manager, or at the very least be on time.
  • Accept responsibility for what happens in your department. Trying to pass the buck makes you appear defensive or insecure.
  • Know how much authority and autonomy you have in credit decisionmaking.
  • Shore up weaknesses such as poor presentation or public speaking skills before these problems damage your reputation.

© 2011 by Michael C. Dennis, author of "1001 Collection Tools and Tips." All Rights Reserved