Today's Career Advice

Avoid the "Zappers!"

You're probably wondering what kind of career advice applies to career zappers...

Well, in the informative article by John Robertson below, these so-called "career zappers" are a list of "don't" activities that will do little for your personal development, but have a strongly negative impact on your career.

Take a dose of career advice from me and John... it's wise to be savvy about career zappers such as loose lips, a lack of relevant personal training, and poor personal organization, as you'll read below...

Today, everyone is looking for the secret to business success. Professionals read books, take training classes, ask questions, get career advice from and study others that are successful and strive to outperform themselves.

However, some behavior patterns can develop into bad habits and cause even the most seasoned and professional person to self-destruct.

Let's take a look at some common behaviors that can put your career on the "skids." As you read these 9 behaviors you may recognize some areas you will want to change to keep your career on track.

Take my career advice... the following are ten danger signs that can trap you and may "zap" your career.

1. Over Confidence: While you need a healthy dose of self-confidence to carry you through those tough times you also need to keep your confidence and ego in balance.

   Keeping your ego in check will prevent you from thinking you are more important than those around you and missing out on their good career advice ideas and solutions.

2. Time Abuse: You only have 24 hours a day. Use each one of them wisely.

   Guard against intruders such as non-important phone calls, emails and messages that do not specifically relate to your job.

   Also make sure you save some time for personal development and pleasures.

   You can read more about how to work on your personal improvement and get relevant career advice here.

3. Procrastination: Write the words "Do It Now" on a 3x5 card and post it where you can see it often. Then follow this sage bit of career advice.

   Make that appointment now, make that phone call now, reply to that email now, see your customer now.

4. Failing to Communicate: The most effective professionals spend 80% of their time listening and only 20% of their time talking.

   They then spend 80% of their talking time asking questions and also getting career advice. How does your communication ratio stack up to this standard?

5. Short-Sightedness: Approach your problems and decisions with a long-term view in mind.

   Ask how what you do today will affect the organization 2 years, 5 years and 10 years from now.

   While this does not mean every decision you make will have that kind of impact far in the future, however it is a good way to verify your thinking.

6. Loose Lips: While at one time they may have been responsible for sinking ships, today loose lips most likely will sink your career.

   Be care of what you put in emails and what you say to others. Many a person has regretted making a casual comment concerning their job or company. Ignore this career advice at the peril of your career.

7. Not Keeping Good Records: Are you using a good contact management tool? If not, consider starting today.

   Important Career Advice Tip: A contact management tool will keep important information about peers, customers, and clients in one easy to access place.

8. Stunted Growth: Never quit learning. Become a better person and reach higher levels of success by continuing to feed your mind and really listen to career advice from others.

9. Not Delegating Some of Your Workload: Today, almost everyone is doing the job that just a few years ago was done by as many as two people or more.

   If you don't delegate a portion of your work to others that are capable of doing the job, you can become overloaded and perhaps all of your other work will suffer.

   Take a look at your current workload; make a note of what you can pass on to someone else. Remember that delegating is not "work dumping" but transferring responsibility along with the authority and responsibility to get the task done.
   
   Don't forget to give credit to the person you delegated the job to.

10. Thinking You Know It All: Never believe you are a complete final product. Keep improving your skills and knowledge. Seek out career advice from mentors. Be responsible for your future.

    Take a listening course; listen to books on CD while traveling or in your leisure time. Pick up a book and read it, associate with other successful people.




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About The Author: John Robertson is a Professional Trainer with over 20 years experience in Mid to Sr. Level Management in several Fortune 500 companies.

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So now you know which career zappers to avoid and how focusing more on your personal development can really make a difference in your career success. I hope you'll take the time to really ponder the career advice on this page and try and figure out how to implement it. Have you figured out which career zappers may have been holding you back?

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