There are many ingredients that go into building a successful career. And you’ve no doubt got plenty. But if you’re attitude’s not right, none of that is going to matter. Avoid these 8 career-damaging attitudes.

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+44 (0) 7976 751 095 dan@danbeverly.com http://danbeverly.com
8 Attitudes That Will Stifle
Your Career Development 24 May 2016
There are many ingredients that go into building a successful career. And you’ve no doubt got plenty.
But if you’re attitude’s not right, none of that is going to matter. Avoid these 8 career-damaging attitudes.
Many ingredients and varied recipes cook-up a
successful career.
Some are universally required. Others are situation-specific.
Some are learnt. Others are drawn-out. And since the best
of us are a little bit born-leader and a little bit made-
leader, we hire for values, passion, energy (and so on);
knowing we can train and develop the rest.
But those who make the decision on who gets the job or
wins the promotion aren't going to look too hard at any of
that if the attitude isn't right.
Here are a few phrases indicative of attitudes best avoided
– if you want your best professional qualities to shine
through.
“That's not my job"
We all have our responsibilities. However, to hear
continually that this isn't your job paints you as not being
a team player, and has you - and everyone around you -
focused on what cannot be done. It also suggests a lack of
other key career-developing assets like contribution,
learning, flexibility and delivery focus. Instead, get
positively involved to support finding a solution - and the
better-placed person to help with.
"That’s not a good idea"
Over time, your team and colleagues are going to be
reluctant to share if every opinion and idea is quickly
shot-down. Foster creativity, innovation and collaboration
by catching your objection and instead asking "how
would it work?"
"It wasn’t my fault"
This is only ever heard as defensive and makes the focus
of the conversation apportioning blame rather than
moving to a solution by understanding the issue. Take the
higher ground and get committed to a solution as you
succinctly and comprehensively walk-through the issue.
"I think …"
Discounting phrases like "I think", "my feeling is", "you
might not agree, but" reduce the impact of your message
and make you seem far-less authoritative. Become attuned
to this and replace these words and phrases with stronger
alternatives such as: "I recently observed", "I feel strongly

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that", "I recommend". Do this and your ideas will be more
respected – the same ideas that previously were lacking
traction.
"I don’t know"
If you don't know the answer, best not to cover it up. But
"I don't know" can come across as laziness and unwilling to
take a positive step towards a solution. Instead: "let me
find-out the answer to that" or "we don't have that yet -
where can I get some help to pull that together?" Be
thinking: positive intention towards a solution.
"I can’t"
This is another of those statements that hint at an attitude
of inflexibility, unhelpfulness or problem-focus - all of
which run counter to ingredients necessary for a successful
career. Those who get the job or win the promotion are
embracing of change, up for the challenge and ready to
plug the gaps in their skills or knowledge in order to
deliver. Demonstrate that by pinpointing the issue and
suggesting a solution or alternative.
"I guess"
This common qualifier is tentative, non-committal and
lacking in confidence. If there's something here that gives
you cause for concern, call it out. Be adult about your
objection and reason with your counterpart. A constructive
argument is not an example of the system not working. It
is working - and your discussion will likely output a better
solution delivered with more commitment.
"That’s impossible"
Regardless of whether what's being presented is, in fact,
impossible, this phrase is extremely negative - and no one
wants to work with that. So keep it constructive. What
needs to be re-architected to make it possible? What
compromises would make this doable? What alternative
options are there?
The importance of
language
The language we use is important in two directions.
Firstly: it reflects our internal working model to the outside
world. Secondly: it also contributes to the construction of
that internal working model.
By watching for - and upgrading - our language, we can
not only demonstrate a positive attitude to those around
us; we can instil within us naturally positive attitudes that
will serve us, career-long.
Dan Beverly is a leadership and performance coach helping high-calibre, high-
performing professional women embrace the pivotal career moments.
His mission is to inspire possibility in others: to help us excel in careers without
compromise; and to leave us feeling energised and uplifted by a new future.
Go online to book your “Session Zero” with Dan – and start capitalising on
your pivotal career moments today.
http://danbeverly.com/session-zero