Last Updated on: 12th January 2024, 09:05 pm
In my last blog post, I shared the first ten tips for boosting your career. Here are tips 11-20. Enjoy!
Do and Don’t Tip #11. Do grab the opportunities that come your way. Don’t let fear get the better of you.
Opportunities have a way of coming from out of nowhere. They often come so unexpectedly that we don’t immediately know what to do with them. We are often caught off guard that our automatic response tends to be “no,” “I don’t think so,” or “I’m not sure.”
These negative and uncertain responses usually stem from fear and self-doubt. Our first thought is usually that we’re not familiar with or good enough at what’s being asked of us. This prevents us from further exploring the opportunity that has come to us.
Instead of letting your fear take the better of you, muster the courage to say yes to that opportunity. My personal philosophy around this is
Say yes, then learn fast!
There have been many instances in my career where I’ve been asked by an employer or a client if I can do something that’s totally new to me. I’ve been asked to lead projects, which I’ve never done previously. I’ve also been asked to write on topics—like machine learning or military strategies—which I was totally unfamiliar with and which were outside of my interests and my comfort zone. A few years ago, I was also given the opportunity to form and manage my own team.
In all of these instances, my initial reaction would always be a sense of panic and dread that I wouldn’t know the first thing to do or that I would fail. Worse, I knew that my failure would also have a negative effect on my employer or client. However, I bravely took on these tasks, and my greatest reward was the realization that I was capable of it after all. I would never have learned this of myself had I not been courageous in grabbing these opportunities.
For me, these kinds of situations are always win-win. If you successfully make something out of the opportunity you’ve been given, then these will surely lead to more opportunities. If you fail, then it still cannot be considered a loss. You would’ve surely learned a lot from the experience–learning that would eventually lead to yet more opportunities!
Do and Don’t Tip #12. Do build and foster relationships. Don’t burn bridges.
There’s no doubt that social networks help boost your career.
According to Stephanie Crawford, statistics indicate that people consider their connections—both personal and professional—as the most effective way to find jobs. Whether you create and maintain relationships online or in person, they can help you with your career goals. Your connections can help inform you of opportunities outside of the ones you’re seeking. They can also introduce you to other people who may be able to help you. In addition, it allows opportunities to find you.
Thanks to social media, network building has become much easier. Keep your profile and resume updated so that the people who may need your skills can easily find you.
LinkedIn has been especially helpful for me. I get most of my clients there, and I still get a lot of job leads even though I’m no longer working in corporate. I also make sure to keep in touch and stay connected with my old schoolmates and colleagues. In addition, I meet a lot of new people through meetup groups and events.
This is not to say that I have not burned any bridges. I think it’s okay to burn bridges if the relationships are no longer worth repairing. No one should have to put up with “toxic” people, but I find that there are still more relationships worth keeping.
Do and Don’t Tip #13. Do set boundaries. Don’t be a pushover.
In our desire to please our employers and clients, we tend to become pushovers to the point that we end up having more work than what we’re capable of handling or more work than we’re being paid to do.
I complained about this once to a former superior—how I was getting too tired from all the work I was doing and how I was being given too much work. Her advice was something that really stuck to me and that I continue to heed until today. She told me that it was my fault that I was being given too much work. She advised that my employer would happily give me more work as long as I kept accepting it and that it was up to me to say no. She told me that it’s okay to say no, and I’ve had no problem saying no since then 🙂
I have learned to know what my boundaries are and to ensure that I stay within those limits. It’s not being arrogant or aggressive to tell your employers or clients that you cannot handle more work. They should be thankful for your honesty because if you forced yourself to handle more work than you were realistically capable of, then the quality probably won’t be as good. Conversely, if you could get enough rest and handle a reasonable amount of work, then you would be better able to complete your tasks.
Here are some tips on how to say no at work:
- Give your boss a list of the tasks that you’re currently working on, as he or she may not even be aware of everything that you’re doing. Explain that you no longer have extra resources for new tasks.
- Explain that you currently have a lot of tasks and you’re concerned that taking on more work might affect the quality of the outcomes.
- Offer options. Tell your boss that you already have a full workload but that you’re willing to work on the new task if they can extend your deadline on your current tasks. Alternatively, suggest that your boss may want to reassign your other tasks so that you can work on the new one.
Do and Don’t Tip #14. Do value constructive feedback. Don’t take them personally.
I always value constructive feedback, even if they’re given a bit harshly, because I know that taking them to heart and learning from them will help me improve and grow.
I am weak at Math, and throughout grade school and high school, my Dad has been my Math tutor. He has a big voice, which increasingly rises out of frustration that I couldn’t understand what he was teaching me. His loud booming voice scared my brother, but I was fine with it. I knew that he wasn’t raising his voice because he was mad at me. It was just his nature to have a loud voice. I didn’t take it personally and was focused more on how I could learn and improve.
Even when I started to work, I made sure that I learned from every piece of constructive feedback I got.
What do I do about negative feedback? I just ignore them. If I know that the feedback has no merit, then I try to respect the other person, but I don’t get offended because I know myself and I know that their feedback was not valid.
Here’s how you can distinguish constructive from negative feedback:
- The criticism is constructive if it pertains to a particular incident and not to something that happened in the past. It is also not about you as a person or about your behavior.
- Constructive criticism is specific. It specifies your flaws or the mistakes you’ve made and provides concrete advice on how you can improve. If the criticism is too vague (e.g. “you have bad leadership”), then it’s probably meant negatively and should be ignored, especially if you’re not given more details despite asking for them (asking for examples is a good way to ask for clarification).
- Constructive criticism is given in an objective manner.
Do and Don’t Tip #15. Do be objective. Don’t let emotions get in the way.
It’s always appropriate to remain objective and professional in the workplace. You may not like everyone you work with or you may have misunderstandings with some of them, but this shouldn’t hinder you from working effectively with them.
I had a close friend at work whom I didn’t speak to for a month because I wanted to prove a point that I had my limitations when it came to the way he teased me. But while I didn’t speak to him during breaks or outside the workplace, I made sure that we communicated during meetings and other work-related instances. And yes, we’re still friends 🙂
Do and Don’t Tip #16. Do be open to other ideas. Don’t give in to groupthink.
People are often afraid to stand out; hence, they end up suppressing their feelings and opinions. They go along with what the majority says even when they think or feel differently.
Don’t be afraid to speak your mind. Even if nobody agrees with you or even if your idea does not get implemented, you never know if a leader (maybe even your own boss) agrees with your idea or at least appreciates your courage for presenting a different perspective. It might even make your team think of new solutions to a problem. At the very least, you’ll feel at peace that you were able to express yourself.
Do and Don’t Tip #17. Do protect yourself from mistreatment. Don’t think that you’re helpless.
Office politics can be quite brutal, especially if you’re in a cutthroat environment, but you don’t have to put up with any negative treatment just because you want to keep your job. Here are some ways you can protect yourself from negative treatment:
- Make sure your work is faultless. Always submit quality work on time. This way, no one can undermine your work.
- Make sure your leaders and everyone who matters are aware and informed of your tasks, accomplishments, and issues. They’re the ones who decide your “fate” in the organization. At the end of the day, only their opinions matter.
- Document everything. All project communications and conflict resolution efforts should be well documented, as this would make it easier to determine where the issues occur and where accountability lies.
If all else fails, don’t be afraid to leave your job. I was afraid to leave mine, as I didn’t think I’d find a better opportunity. But I was surprised that things only got better after I quit my job. I believe in the law of attraction, and it says that if you want to attract good things into your life, then you have to let go of the negative ones, as they only drag you down and hinder the opportunities from coming into your life. Well, as I found out, this couldn’t be truer!
Do and Don’t Tip #18. Do challenge the status quo. Don’t be a blind follower.
While most people prefer to stay quiet and just let their bosses make all the decisions, this may not always be to their advantage.
You have to consider that you were hired to add value to the organization. If you just say yes to everything that your boss says and accept even the poor decisions, then you may not be doing your job well and you may not be doing your part to help your organization succeed. As the Chartered Global Management Accountant indicates, senior executives want employees who speak up, as the lack of new ideas can hinder innovation. Similarly, your lack of willingness to bring up ideas or concerns about your career can hinder your professional advancement. Some bosses get impressed when their ideas are challenged, but even if your boss doesn’t appreciate it, the others around you, including those above your boss, may take notice and perceive you as having leadership qualities.
When presenting new ideas to your boss, be sure to support them with facts. These would allow you to show in an objective manner why the problem exists or why your solution may work. Also choose your battles by tackling the most important issues first.
Do and Don’t Tip #19. Do stay secure and confident in your capabilities. Don’t compete with others.
When you know you’re good at what you do, then you don’t need others to acknowledge that. This will prevent you from feeling frustrated. You also don’t need to compete with your colleagues, as this can lead to conflicts and feelings of insecurity. Compete only with yourself, particularly by figuring out how you can keep improving with your work. Eventually, you’ll be given your time to shine.
Do and Don’t Tip #20. Do think outside the box. Don’t limit yourself to the conventional.
There isn’t a single way for you to reach your goals. Sometimes the path to achieving them is less obvious.
In my case, I always thought that I would achieve my goals through a long-term career in the corporate world. I was so adamant about it that I failed to consider other possibilities. I would later realize that freelancing—despite the instability that people usually associate with it—would be the stepping stone to my dreams.
Moreover, unlike other startups , I started mine with hardly any capital, without any physical office, with no employees, and with no business plan—but so far, so good! : )
The moral? Just because everybody’s doing it a certain way doesn’t mean you have to do it that way, too. Don’t be afraid to go against the norm and to figure out a strategy that’s tailor fit for you 🙂
Conclusion
Knowing your worth allows you to have the courage to go after what you want. However, having self-belief does not mean ignoring what people around you say. Listen to the feedback you receive as this can help you further improve. At the same time, though, be careful not to let others mistreat you. Know yourself enough to know when the feedback you get has merit or not. Lastly, don’t be afraid to be different and to do what’s right for you!
Do watch out for the last part of this article (Do and Don’t Tips #21-#29)
Have a good day!
