The Not-So-Bad Mistakes versus the Career Suicide Ones
Strategy #1 is a big one so you never get passed over for promotion. At least not again. Let’s get to it.
We grow up learning that mistakes can be good. They can teach us and make us into better human beings in the process. And all of that is very true. But there are different rules at play when it comes to your job and your career.
See, here are 2 types of mistakes and each can be perceived very differently (and remember, perception IS reality so it kinda matters):
1. The not-so-bad mistakes: The mistakes that you make innocently and admit openly and feel really bad about. Like forgetting to add a slide to your presentation or telling the customer about their shipment. It’s a big deal but everyone around you realizes it was unintentional. They give you the benefit of a doubt and know that you made an unintentional error. No big deal. You apologize and move on and all is well.
2. The ‘career suicide’ mistakes: The mistakes that you still feel bad about, but a few select people in the corporate echelon do not give you that benefit of a doubt. Instead, they use this mistake to taint your reputation or even damage your career down the road. These mistakes can be the ultimate career suicide and are best avoided.
Don’t ask me how I know! It brings up bitter memories but hey, the good news is you can be fully aware of them, and become successful at work thanks to my colossal corporate mistakes. And as we go through our strategies, I help you figure out how to avoid these mistakes for yourself. For today, we’ll only cover the top 8 mistakes.
These are 8 corporate career mistakes that you must know about if you never want to get passed over for promotion in your career. These fall under the “unlucky mistakes” explained above, and this can be a terrible thing in your career path. It can cost you dearly. Sure you can still learn from it but why go through the pain and the cost if you can avoid it altogether. Be smarter about your own corporate career strategy.
8 Mistakes to Never Make if You Want Success at Corporate
Mistake #1: Top industry certifications don’t necessarily earn you more money or get you promoted.
So the myth is that if you get certified in your industry or your niche, you are suddenly rewarded by your company. While it does depend on company policy or the boss’s good naturedness, none of that is reliable or enforceable. It can change on a whim and there are no guarantees. As an ex-corporate-certification-junkie, take my word for it and think twice before you get certified. The ugly plaque may be all you get for the sweat and sacrifice.
Mistake #2: You’ll have to verbally ask for a raise and a promotion. More than once.
It will not be handed over to you just because you worked harder than everyone else. Sorry! You need to clearly identify the important tasks to your management and leadership and understand the impact and the visibility of those, and focus your energy there, not everywhere.
Mistake #3: Executive leadership makes decisions to please shareholder interest, not the employee.
People forget that the corporation is not there for them; it is there to answer to its shareholders. Let this one sink in well. Don’t expect the executive leadership to do right by you. They may consider what is in the best interest of the employees but they have shareholders to answer to first. If they don’t make decisions that resonate with your core values, think twice before working at this company.
Mistake #4: The Human Resources (HR) is not there to protect you, dear one. Their job is to protect the company.
First of all, if you can, stay clear of the way of your Human Resources – or HR – altogether, because it can do more harm than good. The HR will not act in your interest and they will not solve your problem because they do not care about you. The HR is there to protect the company. Disagree all you want; I know I did it when I first heard it. Instead, seek a mentor or trusted leader for advice, and make sure they are outside your direct chain of command but remember that the HR simply protects the corporation’s interests, not yours.
Mistake #5: You don’t need to do everything you’re asked to be a top performer. Just do what adds value.
Ask yourself if the task at hand is really important and if you need to attend every meeting and listen to every training and answer every email. You will find that the top performers do very little of that and focus on the really important work. Learn to distinguish between busy work and critical work.
Mistake #6: Putting your career in your manager’s hands is as safe a bet for success as letting your child run wild in a busy street. Your career is in your own hands.
Now I admit I had good managers. They were gracious people for the most part but I confused something very early on: I thought that simply because I loved my management that they too loved me in return and they would take care of me. So my career went ignored because nobody looked out for it. Manage your own career.
Mistake #7: Having real impact and working hard are not the same things so ask yourself only how to add impact.
Focus on what matters! This is for those of you who want to do meaningful work with your time and your life. Don’t be like me and go through a roller coaster period of trying way too hard to succeed and then, not caring less about the work as long as I got paid. The work that you do matters. Ask for meaningful projects with high visibility and show that you are worth it!
Mistake #8: No one cares if you quit or get sick or even die so don’t kill yourself for the corporation. Have perspective.
Sorry to be so dramatic but I wish someone were that dramatic with me. The sense of urgency about everything at the corporation is ridiculous and the sacrifices expected of you are uncalled for.
Those are just a few career suicide mistake which you really want to avoid because when you have these under control, instead of getting passed over for promotion, you start to get noticed. Which is the first step to getting promoted!
Now if you are ready for more, if you want to stop getting passed over for promotion for good, and want to discover the comprehensive step-by-step system that shows you how to get recognized, appreciated and rewarded at work, I invite you to take a look at Crack the Code to Get Promoted. In this program, I give you the whole scoop – which is essential to navigating the corporate landscape and making your mark.
Until our Career Strategy #2, do a self-examination of how your thinking and actions at work as you review the 8 mistakes and make absolutely sure that you are steering clear of them.
That’s it for this strategy! You will have your next exclusive one in your Inbox soon.
Talk to you in the next strategy,
Farnoosh
Questions? Click here to contact me.
P.S.
If you made it here from Twitter or Google or a link from a friend, why not go ahead and get the whole package? This is part of Career Success Strategies for Advancing and Getting Promoted at Your Job, an email course on the fundamentals of what it takes to get ahead, get noticed, get promoted, and get rewards and raises at your job.
Find out more about the free course and sign up here.
