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10 Barriers To Getting Ahead In Your Career
Most people start their career with huge expectations and perhaps even bigger things they want to achieve.
Some go on to achieve great success but others, particularly those from professional backgrounds, often struggle. So what are some of the barriers that stop people getting ahead in their career?
- Failing to get clear about what they want to achieve short term and long term. Being clear about where you are going helps you make informed choices.
- Being unwilling to put in the effort. In many professions there is a level you cannot get beyond without a professional qualification. I am not saying this is fair but it is reality. We all know that getting any type of professional qualification requires effort.
- Being a minimalist. By that I mean never going beyond the boundaries of what they are paid to do.
- Lack of confidence. It amazes me when I come across highly competent people who are lacking self-confidence. Don’t confuse confidence with never worrying. Confidence is what pushes you forward even when there are some big obstacles.
- Failing to get noticed by the decision makers or those who have the ear or can influence the decision makers.
- Underselling what you have to offer. It is easy to think that all the organisation is interested in is the people who sell or are in the creative functions. Every organisation needs good people in every discipline so make sure you sell what you have to offer.
- Never learning how to manage and in some cases resisting any suggestion to learn the oddly named softer skills.
- Failing to continuously develop yourself and finding that what you thought were assets are actually obsolete skills.
- Making career moves that look great in the short term but are really bad news long term.
- Never mastering how to be successful in interviews and handle the pressure of the interview situation.
The Bottom Line: We all start with the same opportunity and to a large extent influence how far we go.
If you have found this blog post valuable I invite you to check out my audio masterclass on climbing the career ladder.
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.