8 Ways Youre Sabotaging Your Work Reputation

8 Ways Youre Sabotaging Your Work Reputation8 Ways Youre Sabotaging Your Work Reputation Most professionals care what their colleagues and the higher-ups think of them. Thats because how people perceive you and your work is often the determining factor in whether or not you get a promotion , raise or access to leadership opportunities. Unfortunately, there are a lot of elements that go into determining what your work reputation actually is, and theyre not always easy to keep tabs on. The quality of your work matters of course, but the small actions you take each day add up to create a bigger picture about who you are. Ahead, find the most common pitfalls that people dont realize are hurting them. It might seem like being game for anything and everything asked of you, despite being busy, is a surefire way to earn a stellar rep, but it can actually pigeonhole you into a specific job longer than you want to be there - and make you look a little too eager. If you alwa ys take on tasks, there will come a point in time when you become irreplaceable - and not in a good way, says Leonard Kim, managing partner of InfluenceTree , a personal branding accelerator that teaches you how to punkt your brand, get featured in publications and grow your social media following. Oftentimes, when people say yes to every single task presented to them, they are seen as so good at their role that they become the only person who can do it. Theyre never promoted because they have become the best person in the world at filling that job role, Kim explains. In a sense, they become so synonymous with the role, that theyre no longer considered for opportunities to move up. So instead of biting off mora than you can chew, stick to projects that interest you and that you realistically have time to do.Theres nothing wrong with being focused, but its important to take stock of how you act in your day-to-day. If youre passing someone by, are you smiling? Do you say hi? Excus e me? Or do you seem rushed? Kim asks. Sometimes, keeping your head down and your eyes on the prize can be mistaken for a negative outlook or an unfriendly attitude. People take notice of all the small actions you make , so make sure youre aware of what youre doing and how it reflects on you. Your anfhrer isnt the only person who matters at work, Kim says. Your coworkers matter , too, and the last thing that you want them to do is to turn against you. So yes, its good to impress your boss, but dont do it at the cost of alienating your colleagues. The most common thing I see people do that ruins their reputation at work is when they take a job that doesnt fit with their personality, but dont try to adapt, Kim explains. Employers try their best to hire culture fits for their geschftszimmer, but sometimes it just doesnt work out. That means its up to you to adapt and mold yourself into your companys culture. Sometimes this situation can be tough to spot, but Kim says behavior that goes against the grain is generally an easy tell that somethings not quite right. Do you work in a fast-paced environment, but youre someone who takes things slow? Are you a stiff personality who tries to keep things all business in an office environment where everyone treats each other like family? Do you like to share stories about your weekends when everyone tries to be a bit more professional in the office? Chances are, youre destroying your reputation and you dont even know it.Theres a delicate balance between saying more than necessary and not saying enough, and its important to strike that balance. Lets say you hopped on a conference call and introduced yourself, but said nothing afterwards. Maybe you said one sentence. Or maybe you talked for the entire conversation. People will think you have nothing to contribute, your opinion doesnt matter or that you want to steal the show for yourself, Kim says. The key here is to learn to contribute the right amount - adding value but still listening to others - and then stay consistent.Dont get us wrong - if youre having a serious issue with a colleague that requires HR involvement, by all means, get your superior involved. But if its something small, like a team member not pulling their weight on a specific project or a one-off comment that didnt sit right with you, dont go straight to the top, Kim says. Being seen as someone who will run to their manager as soon as things get tough isnt exactly desirable. If youre having a conflict with someone at the office, try your best to resolve it on your own. If you cant, then just avoid the other person. And if it becomes too much for you to handle, it may be time for you to take a conflict management class. If youre sensing a theme here, its that little things matter when it comes to determining your reputation. Whether its chewing gum, smoking, wearing headphones at your computer, hovering over another coworkers desk or constantly being away from your desk, peop le take notice. Most of the time, the most subtle things are the ones that are holding you back from ultimate success, Kim says. It might seem difficult to figure out what your little habits are that could be damaging your rep, but Kim suggests you ask yourself how you want to be seen at work. Then think about how a person with those qualities would act at their office and compare them to your quirks. If the person youre imagining isnt chewing gum or hanging up cat pictures, then thats probably something you shouldnt be doing, either.Many people believe that working as hard as they possibly can and outperforming everyone else will put them on the fast track to success. According to Kim, this isnt always true. Sometimes, working harder than everyone else will work against you. You may be thinking, whats the worst thing that can happen if you perform at your absolute best? Well, sucking up didnt work in grade school, and it also doesnt work in an office environment. Kims advice is s imple Do your best, but dont go overboard. Be humble. Tone it down. Let your work speak for itself. That way, youll avoid any office politics.