Are you feeling disappointed at how your career is tracking?
It might be early days, but still, others that started at the same time as you are making headway and gaining recognition, acknowledgement and even promotions. You had a vision of what work life was going to be however, it’s not working out that way – you can’t seem to gain traction, get noticed or even a look in.
When we first enter the workforce, there is so much to learn. There are skills, systems and acronyms, and even understanding office politics. However, there is one aspect that is never covered in the employee handbook. It is not taught at school, university or even mentioned by our parents or managers, yet is crucial for our job and future. It is what we refer to as career self-sabotage.
Self-sabotage is our thought patterns and behaviours that prevent us from achieving our goals. Your goal might be to run a marathon, yet when it comes time to train, your thought pattern is “what is the point? I’ll never make it”, so you don’t practice or train. That’s self-sabotage. Then six months later, your friend who set the same goal and trained completes the marathon and you wonder how.
Apply it to the context of our workplace and it manifests in the same way. These actions (or inaction) are often unconscious and is what makes career self-sabotage challenging to navigate.
Self-sabotage feeds from low self-esteem and self-confidence. Any wonder we often see it take hold in early career stages as, in a lot of ways, that is when we are most vulnerable. We are out of the security of school, university, friendships, and family and venturing out to make it on our own.
Here are five self-sabotaging moves we see at the early career stage:
1. I’m an imposter
You might be thinking, “I don’t deserve to be here” or “I’m not smart enough”. I’ll let you in on a secret: everyone at some stage in their career thinks and feels this way.
In fact, all of those ‘others’ who started at the same time as you, who look to be excelling, have this thought as well. It’s natural and normal, especially at the early career stage. You are learning, acquiring skills, making mistakes and spending a lot of time out of your comfort zone.
Do you find yourself not speaking up at meetings for fear of looking ‘stupid’? The problem is inactions like this stunt growth and progress. To assist in feeling this way, prepare well for meetings and opportunities. Research and understand the subject matter and rehearse questions or ideas. It is a smart strategy and might be what ‘the others’ have been doing all along.
Our careers require a constant application to learning, and this is never more apparent than at the beginning stage. It may mean extra effort and hours however, it assists to create stronger self-belief and confidence, critical as a workplace attribute.
2. Procrastination
It is the lynchpin to most self-sabotage manoeuvres and seen especially to manifest in early careers. You might have the best intentions, and likely an abundance of enthusiasm, but for some reason when given a responsibility, a project or task you can’t seem to get started. Or you delay to such a degree, the delivery is late and/or of a poor quality. That’s the result of procrastination.
Then, if you’re not careful, the negative self-talk marches firmly into your rhetoric, with statements like, “You see, you tried but weren’t quite good enough. Next time, save yourself, don’t put your hand up”.
We all procrastinate. It’s normal and when you are at a learning stage, it is even more common. However, you can’t let procrastination become the norm.
It’s important to have a strategy and plan. At the early stage of a task or project, create a habit of understanding exactly what is required and the expected time. Don’t delay. Don’t be afraid to seek help and advice.
As a side note, some people say they thrive on last-minute pressure, claiming that’s when they work best. It may have worked once but it will inevitably let you down. It’s not sustainable, and you can expect to miss deadlines and to submit less than optimal work. It’s best to not let this be your ‘justification’ as you move through your career.
Roxanne Calder shares more career advice in her book Earning Power: Breaking Barriers and Building Wealth for Women.
3. I’m just not ready
Perhaps the timing isn’t right? Maybe you need more training, mentoring, upskilling, and another six months on the job. You might say all this, even with your manager advocating and believing in you. Alternatively, you might be using self-sabotage’s escape clause: “I’ll take it up next year”. All these narratives are based on self-doubt. In the most perfect of times, we are rarely ready.
When faced with doubts like this, and before you say no to an opportunity, review your core capabilities and transferable skills. Conduct a SWOT analysis of your skills, the requirements of the job and identify any gaps. The SWOT is conducted to find the solution (e.g. develop numeric ability for the sales manager role), not to justify why you can’t.
Look to your soft skills such as resilience and perseverance to navigate the times when self-doubt appears. Additionally, to be ready psychologically, praise yourself. Keep a daily or weekly log of achievements and wins, even if it is a mini achievement. Sometimes in the face of self-doubt, we lose focus on what we are achieving, where we have come from and where we are going.
4. I get more work done from home
It is the often-heard catchphrase. Even if you do, at the beginning stages of your career, there is a cost. It could be those career advancements, opportunities for recognition, acknowledgement, and pivotal moments to be seen and heard.
The in-office experience of learning by osmosis cannot be underestimated. So, too, is it crucial for the formative career-building years, exploration, establishment, and mid-career. As for the Gen Z cohort, they will still be forming, storming and norming. Additionally, according to an October 2023 KPMG report, two-thirds of CEOs worldwide expect most staff to be back in the office full-time in the next two to three years.
The pull to work in the comfort of our home sits with all of us. Consider what is best for your career the next time you opt to be at home instead of the office. This, in conjunction with ignoring the signs and signals your boss and organisation are sending about WFH, could be a strong self-sabotaging move
5. Are you saying ‘no’ too often?
There is nothing wrong with healthy boundaries. In fact, it should be encouraged and early on in your career. Boundaries and the ability to say ‘no’ create a respectful and safe workplace, assist in avoiding burnout and, importantly, elevate and empower individuals. However, boundaries are not static.
They need constant review and readjustment in accordance with the ever-changing working environment. Be aware of saying ‘no’ based on our fear of failure or not liking a certain task. Statements such as ‘I don’t have time’ or ‘I’m too busy’ are not boundaries. Without an offer of a solution, they are a negative response, and can send the wrong message back to your boss and team.
Your ‘no’ or resistance to tasks will undoubtedly hamper valuable learning opportunities. They might also delay team collaboration and connection, conversely impeding the yes coming through from your manager. Instead, look for solutions to the request. Most importantly, use your self-awareness to probe the underlying reason why you are saying ‘no’. At the early stages of your career, you should be mostly saying ‘yes’.
If you recognise you might be self-sabotaging your career, don’t despair. On the contrary, pat yourself on the back for your self-awareness. Awareness is a key weapon in combatting career self-sabotage and the ability to address early on in your career is a clever move.
Every self-limiting belief, procrastination, and unspoken negative narrative silently and powerfully undermines career progress. Take control by recognising and addressing your unconscious behaviours. Envision a future where every step you take is purposeful, every decision aligns with your goals, and every challenge is met with resilience and determination.
