If you believe jobs are “temporary” and the best is yet to be, you can create an easy-to-spot trail of behaviors that can put a cap on your career. In this environment, here are some of the ways to mess up on the job without even knowing it:
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Take advantage of your team. Make it clear from the get-go that you’re a “team player.” Then make sure everyone knows you have too much on your plate to support the team.
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Always agree but don’t perform. When asked to do something, act interested and even excited, but never get around to it. After you’ve done this several times, you’ll be left alone.
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Position yourself as the exception. You’ve figured it out and thought it through. There are good reasons why what applies to everyone in your group doesn’t apply to you.
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Do only so much and nothing more. You’re not going to be around long; you’re already looking for your next gig. So, why knock yourself out? Act busy, but take it easy on yourself.
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ass the blame around. The directions were incorrect. Someone gave you inaccurate information, misled you, waited to the last minute to notify you, or had it in for you – on and on it goes. There’s plenty of blame to go around.
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Behave inconsistently. This is the most useful on-the-job strategy for hiding in plain sight. One time you’re up and the next time you’re down. Friendly, and then aloof. You’re unpredictable. It doesn’t take long before they stop counting on you.
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They can’t do without you. You’ve been in the job for a while and you know the ropes, so you’re feeling good about yourself. You talk more openly about co-workers and play a little loose with the rules. You believe your job is secure, but others see a train wreck coming.
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Ask for help but never offer it. You can’t understand why your co-workers are reluctant to help you. It isn’t because they don’t like you. With you, helping is a one-way street.
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The rules don’t apply to you. When the rules benefit you, you make sure everyone knows about it. When they don’t, you come up with ways to make it clear that you are the exception.
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Overestimate your capabilities. Hey, you’re not alone on this one. Most of us tend to exaggerate our skills, capabilities and our performance, but some do it more than others and they’re surprised when they’re no longer needed.
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Always be ready to come up with a complaint. It’s one thing after another. We can count on you to make a big deal out of almost anything.
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Don’t learn new skills or expand your knowledge base. You don’t seem to recognize that no one arrives on a job perfectly prepared. It takes time to learn the ropes and then continue learning to become and remain highly productive.
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Bluff your way. If you haven’t found a way to successfully mess up on the job, there’s always the other option: faking it. Bluffing will work – until it doesn’t.
There may be other ways to mess up, but these are a good start.
John Graham of GrahamComm is a marketing and sales strategy consultant and business writer. Contact him at jgraham@grahamcomm.com.
