This discussion happens a lot: Someone contacts me for career coaching because they're frustrated that they haven't been promoted into a management position. More often than not, what spills out with their story is how unforeseen forces, over which they have no control, mysteriously seem to be keeping them from moving forward in their career.
I beg to differ. The forces are not invisible. They are not mysterious. You have control over them. Why? Because the key denominator holding you back from moving from an individual contributor role into a position managing people is most likely (drum roll, please): YOU.
The most difficult part of overcoming the barriers to obtaining a promotion into a job where you will manage others, is realizing that YOU might actually be the person holding yourself back.
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Before you get angry at me for what I've just written or try blaming your lack of promotions on your boss or co-workers, read through this list of 20 items and see if any hold true about your behavior:
- You show up to meetings late or unprepared
- You don't get along with co-workers
- You don't finish projects on time or lack project management skills
- You're a workplace gossip
- You don't handle conflicts well
- You don't willingly help others (you're not a team player)
- You don't volunteer for difficult assignments or projects (that will give you greater visibility in the company and to upper management)
- You appear disorganized (your office, your projects, or running meetings/conference calls)
- You're okay giving presentations to small groups, but not if there's more than five people Find out author Lisa Quast's remaining 10 items from Forbes.com/ForbesWoman
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