Are you guilty of procrastinating on crucial tasks at work? Or do you avoid taking on challenging roles due to fear? Or worse, do you feel like you don’t deserve to be there in the first place? If you nodded yes to any of these questions, you are responsible for sabotaging your career. Self-sabotaging is intentional. You hinder your growth, but you are not aware of the reason.

Why do we sabotage our careers?

Self-sabotaging can be due to childhood problems, past adult experiences or even a result of all of them. If, as a child, your parents never believed in your abilities, chances are, when you grow up, you’ll intentionally do things that prove them right.

If you were humiliated in front of everyone for voicing your ideas, even as an adult, you might never do it again in a big client meeting. Low self-esteem is another reason you might not be trying to get out of your comfort zone where your career is concerned. You think you’re not good enough, so you work like a sloth to prove it. It’s not easy to get out of this cycle, but here’s what can help you to excel in your career instead of sabotaging it.

1. Recognise it

Deep within, you know you aren’t following the right course of action, but you might not realise it’s self-sabotage. Recognising your actions is the first step in the how-to-stop-sabotaging-your-career guide. So ask yourself, is my always-getting-late-before-an-important-meeting or waiting-for-last-minute-to-take-up-an-important-task totally avoidable? If yes, then you know why that is.

2. Celebrate small wins

Many people think that when the stars align, they’ll know and then take that necessary step to get ahead in their careers. This is just a way to avoid taking a leap. Start with small steps. Instead of thinking about finishing a difficult project, focus on starting and then slowly finding your way around. Small wins still matter and motivate you to work hard to excel in your career.

3. Stop comparing yourself

Don’t stop grinding to be better, but don’t compare yourself to a colleague either. If you think they get more praise than you do, maybe they are good at something, but that doesn’t mean you’re good at nothing. You have had different journeys and hurdles. And most importantly, just because you think they are better than you doesn’t mean you can’t work hard and climb that ladder.

4. Don’t hide behind BUSY work

A lot of people tend to believe that being busy means being productive. When you are trying to avoid hard tasks, you fill up your schedule with not-so-important tasks like organising your files or cleaning your desk. Before you add tasks to your day, ask if they will help you grow in your career. If not, then it’s time to reconsider.

5. Appreciate feedback

Oftentimes, self-sabotaging results in you trying to shun constructive feedback. If your reaction to any feedback is saying that a senior said so and so because they don’t like you or if you respond with “I couldn’t do this properly because I didn’t have time,” it is outright sabotaging. Without feedback, you’ll never grow, so accept it and work on it.

6. No more procrastination

I know it’s easier said than done, but there’s a plan. Use the SMART method to stop sabotaging yourself. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. If you set up SMART goals, your tasks would be less frustrating. You procrastinate because the things at hand seem overwhelming, but SMART tasks are much more doable. 

7. Positive self-talk

When you believe you are not good enough, you manifest it through your actions. There will be days when you mess up, make a mistake, and deliver low-quality work. But that doesn’t make you a total failure. So, instead of saying you’re not worth the job, relax a little and work with an I-can-do-it mindset. 

8. Professional counselling

When things go out of hand, it’s good to see a professional. Sometimes, the low self-esteem or childhood issues are so deep-rooted that you might not be able to get through on your own. A mental health professional can provide you with the right tools and structure to overcome this.

If self-sabotage has been hanging around your career, it’s time to kick it to the curb. Remember, your career is a long journey full of lessons, surprises, and growth. One mistake or failure can’t define it, so take charge and use these tips to excel in your career.

Featured Image Source

Related: How To Be Successful In Your Career: 9 Career Habits To Master In Your 20s