Is your career path on hold, taken a unwanted detour, or is totally off track? Are you the obstacle to your career lull?
Don’t ask yourself these questions if you’re where you want to be in your career. Warning–the following might sound harsh; I call it being real.
- Is your career going the way you’d like it to be? Sometimes we are our own obstacle. If we never reflect on our moods, communication skills, or general attitude, we may be sending out an unappealing vibe.
- Have you been passed over for a promotion? What have you done to earn it?
- Does your boss turn down your request to attend conferences? Would you want to invest in you?
- Were you the first to be laid-off without a “You’ll be missed”?
- Are you finding it hard to get an interview? Is your go-to response, “everyone is having a hard time”?
- Does contact end after the exploratory phone interview? Could it be your tone or your get-to-the-point attitude?
- Are you making excuses or blaming others because of all of the above? What have you done to make yourself more marketable?
- Have you heard yourself; how you respond; your tone of voice; your predictable responses? Tape yourself and listen. Would you want to talk to you? Even your voicemail could be sending the wrong vibe.
Here are 5 work-related new year’s resolutions you can make:
- Take control of your unpredictable moods. Yes, you have control. Figure out what is bothering you and work through it.
- Stop gossiping. How has that helped your career so far?
- Not responding; or not responding on a timely basis. This shows me how undependable your are.
- It’s always someone else’s fault. Even if it is, how are you going to change it? How are you going to work around it?
- Being late, pulling a no-show, or ghosting. Own it, apologize, and fix it. This reveals your lack of integrity and reliability.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
It’s so much easier to justify or blame why we are stuck. But we can all, in most cases, take a step toward change. Seek guidance. But most of all, be honest with yourself. Are you presenting yourself in the best light? Is your attitude positive (most of the time)? Do something different. Ask a trusted friend if your attitude needs adjusting.
The above etiquette tips are general, subject to interpretation, specific circumstances, and personal perspective. There are always more options. If your concern is ongoing and/or escalating, seek professional assistance from a trusted source.
Business Etiquette Training: Communication skills, social skills, picking up on social cues, office gossip…
Contact me to discuss how we can work together by providing a customized workshop for your staff. Workshop are available for youth, high school, college students, community organizations, sales team, actors, athletes attending fundraisers, admins, front desk staff, general professional development, to support Code of Conduct, to support implementing new employee standards in 2026.
