Have you wondered why you aren’t advancing in your career? Are you overlooked when it comes to raises, promotions or getting assigned great projects? Before you blame the biases of your boss, you might want to take a look in the mirror. You could be holding yourself back by engaging in one or more of these five habits that can ruin your professional reputation.
Habitual Tardiness
It is impossible to be on time for everything all the time. Life frequently throws curveballs, and being late once in a while with a good excuse won’t ruin your reputation. However, if you are habitually late, it shows a lack of respect for other people’s time, and you run the risk of getting labeled as not dependable, irresponsible or untrustworthy.
Procrastination
It’s easy to put off unpleasant tasks until the last minute. However, constant procrastination is not a good trait if you want to climb the ladder in your career. While procrastination may be a conscious choice, it sends the message to others that you do not manage your time well and that you might be unreliable. It also makes others question the quality of your work if you bang something out at the last minute.
Loose Lips
There are times when confidentiality in the workplace is of the utmost importance. If you cannot be trusted to respect confidentiality, you will earn a bad reputation. Confidentiality breaches that impact your company’s clients or even other employees can put the organization at risk of lawsuits. Even breaching a coworker’s trust can negatively impact your reputation. If you are required or requested to maintain confidentiality, it is imperative to do so.
Chronic Negativity
We all have bad days, run-ins with coworkers, rude clients, etc. When bad things happen at work, it’s natural to want to complain. However, if you are someone who only ever sees the bad in a situation and who complains to your coworkers constantly about every little thing, it will damage your professional life. Constant negativity creates an unpleasant environment for those around you, causing people to dislike or even resent working with you.
Resisting Change
It has been said that the only person who likes change is a baby with a wet diaper. Change can be difficult to adjust to and accept, but if you are someone who actively resists any type of change in the workplace, you will be seen as someone who is not a team player and who does not have the best interests of your team or the company at heart.
Are You Looking For New Career Opportunities?
If you have engaged in these behaviors at work in the past, but you’ve improved, it can be hard to shed your old reputation. If you’re looking for a fresh start in your sales and marketing career, reach out to our expert recruiters at Morris Bixby or submit your resume today. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals.