by Geogia Clark
"If you want something done, you've got to do it yourself ... right? Wrong! That is a very arrogant position to take."
Easy, tiger! We all want to get ahead in our careers, but being too ambitious can limit your chances for success. Here are the traps to avoid...
TRAP#1: You chase the quick cash ...
You've spent more than three years living on two-minute noodles during uni, so now it's time for your just desserts.
Key questions in your First Real Job Interview must include: How soon will there be a career development opportunity for me? When will I be eligible for promotion? Can I move up in the organisation, or is it a flat structure? "These are the things that govern how rapidly your pay goes up," says Southam. A warm and supportive work environment is worth gazillion dollars more than a job you dread going to everyday ...
TRAP#2: You can't delegate ...
If you want something done, you've got to do it yourself ... right? Wrong! "That is a very arrogant position to take," says Southam. "It disempowers your team and you'll never get promoted because you'll be too busydoing everyone else's job as well as your own." Career success comes from having time and energy to take on new responsibilities, pitch new ideas or undertake external study. By limiting delegation, you are overburdening yourself and under-skilling your team ...
TRAP#3: You only "manage up" ...
When the Big Cheese (aka your boss) is doing the rounds, you are as sweet as a Chanel fragrance, but as soon as their BMW has left the building, why bother playing nice with pesky colleagues? You are sure to be promoted asap purely 'cause the manager loves your butt!
"Yes, you may well get promoted, but that person you work with could be sitting on an interview panel one day," says Southam. "You will be remembered!" Manage up, down and sideways, and learn to work well with everyone ...
TRAP#4: Your ego rules your decisions ...
A job opening in your team? Better see which Facebook buddy is looking for work ... Uh-oh! Rather than making decisions that benefit the company, you are making decisions that benefit you. This may mean hiring friends, sycophants or people with the same skill set as you who won't "show you up".
It is, according to Southam, extremely common. "You see people doing that who have worked for one year or 30 years," she says. "It's completely counter-productive to career success.If you are doing things to protect your ego, you are insecure. Someone who is confident is not egotistical." If you drive your career to benefit your ego, you will just end up going in circles...
TRAP#5: You see everyone as a threat ...
Even the damn interns have got better ideas than me at the moment - maybe I should "catch them stealing stationery" .. Does this sound familiar?
"Truely successful people don't think like that," explains Southam. "Instead, they understand how important it is to keep taking onboard new ideas and experiences. If you shut everyone out, you are working in a vacuum and, before you know it, you will sink." Surrounding yourself with successful people increases your chance for success...
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