Here at Coach Place, we have a team of experienced coaches who regularly come together to talk about the hot topics in coaching. As people consider their next career move, they’re looking for recent feedback, reflecting on their performance and checking their confidence. Part of the auditing process is knowing what your career-limiting habits (CLHs) are. If you’re a leader wanting to structure an upcoming performance review, you could use the checklist below as a guide. And if you’re proactively self-managing your career path, this too might be helpful.

For anyone who wants to be more effective, have healthier relationships or build a stronger personal brand, here’s our list of the common CLHs that leaders, HR professionals and coaches say prevent people from stepping into their true potential.

Which of these do you recognise in yourself?

1. Risk-averse
2. Passive aggressive
3. Self-focused
4. Negative attitude
5. Situational listener
6. Resistant to change
7. Disrespectful
8. Interrupter
9. Judgemental
10. Uncompromising
11. Inconsistent
12. Lack of confidence
13. Inability to trust and be trusted
14. Procrastinator
15. Overthinker
16. Takes credit for others’ work
17. Sabotages own or others’ work
18. Ego-based decision-making
19. Takes constructive feedback personally
20. Blames others
21. Manages up
22. Can’t say sorry
23. ‘That’s not my job’ attitude
24. Doesn’t keep promises
25. Avoids healthy conflict
26. Creates ‘files’ on teammates
27. Creates email wars
28. Laziness
29. Divisive beliefs or values
30. Enjoys drama and gossip

If you’re unhappy with how many of these characteristics you said ‘yes’ to, there’s plenty you can do immediately to become a better version of you. And congratulations! Self-awareness, acknowledgement and taking responsibility are not easy. You’ll never regret working on you.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Find a mentor who specialises in the things that you need to do better at.
• Request feedback from people you trust – those that’ll tell you the truth.
• Self-assess your impact at the end of each day. What did you do really well today? What do you need to do better tomorrow?
• Write a personal ambition statement (no more than five sentences).
• Develop a learning agenda that identifies opportunities for you to practise better habits and skills.

– The Coach Place Global

Image by @anniespratt

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