Commit, Don't Quit

May 2012

Feel like you've hit a dead end at work? You think you’re doing well, but your boss holds a less enthusiastic opinion? This gap is costing you money and draining your morale, and both you and the company are suffering. What will it take to get your career back on track? You can turn self-defeating behaviors into successful habits.  

Rein Yourself In

Forego short-term pleasures for long-term benefits. If you have been devoting too much time to the “wrong stuff” (what's intriguing rather than what’s important to the organization), stop. Create a personal motivation statement to avoid getting sidetracked— for example, “I would like to see myself as a talented contributor and gain the respect of the smartest people in my company.”  After reading this type of statement, you will feel more motivated to set aside your present desires for an even better future. Melanie, an accountant who has been passed over for a key job twice, gave up hours of TV watching and instead spent that time studying tax law—a necessary skill for getting ahead in her field.

Do What You Can’t

Decide which skills you need to improve in order to succeed at work, and then go out of your way to develop them. Once Melanie decided to become an expert in the new tax laws, she attended a company-sponsored tax law seminar and volunteered to take notes for others who couldn’t attend. After the seminar, she sought feedback from experts in the field. Melanie began applying what she had learned by using her newfound skills with her clients. 

Adjust Your Relationships

It may be necessary to hold a "transformational conversation" with a life partner in order to achieve your goals. You'll want to make sure that the extra work involved in getting your career back on track will fit into both of your long-term aspirations and daily lifestyles. Melanie had a serious talk with her partner, Tony. She also connected with two new colleagues from the tax law seminar. The three pooled their notes, shared insights, and quizzed each other, which kept them feeling motivated.

Reward Small Successes

You may find it useful to play a game with yourself using a financial incentive. Each week, set a goal, and then cough up some of your hard-earned cash to a friend or partner, asking them to act as your referee. At the end of the week, if your referee agrees that you have met your goal, put that money toward something you want to buy. At the end of ten weeks, Melanie had met every career advancement goal and found herself with $160 to put toward a new bicycle.

Restructure Your Environment

Make your new habits easier to practice by enlisting the help of your physical surroundings. If your goal is to ultimately purchase your dream home, position a photo of your ideal abode next to your computer to stay motivated while at work. You may also want to keep tabs on your time management to ensure that you are using your energy productively. Melanie found that two of her smaller customers were taking up more of her time than was necessary—diverting her attention from larger clients.

This is an adaption of an excerpt from CHANGE ANYTHING by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler. Copyright © 2011 by VitalSmarts, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Business Plus, New York, NY. All rights reserved.

Hone Your Skills: Are You A Workaholic?

Hone Your Skills: How to Read the Company Culture

Hone Your Skills: Take the Lead Wherever You Are

Hone Your Skills: Breaking Through to the C-Suite