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Revealed: 8 Common Career Mistakes Kenyan Professionals Make

By Perminus Wainaina

  1. Become comfortable in your career

There comes a time in one’s career when you may feel things are moving at a constant.

Your career has taken off, systems are working and life is business as usual. This is what is called “hitting a plateau”- a situation in which you begin to become comfortable at your job.

You are no longer going out of your way to deliver, produce results or come up with new ways of elevating your career. You are just not pushing yourself enough. You are in your comfort zone.

If you want to keep growing in your career, it is time to get out of your comfort zone and explore what more opportunities lie in your field.

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  1. Lack a clear vision for your career; failing to see the bigger picture

In the words of Hellen Keller (author, political activist and lecturer), “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but no vision.”

The vision is what should drive you every morning to go out of your way and work towards obtaining your desired level of career accomplishment.

You May Like To Read >>> How to come up with a career objective

  1. Engage in reputation damaging activities; burn your bridges

As you rise up the ladder in your career, it is highly recommended that you do not subject yourself and/or your career to an unfavorable reputation.  Do not burn your bridges by dismissing or disparaging your previous employers or fellow colleges.

Do not disregard the networks and relationships you have built in your career because recommendations from those in your professional circles will contribute highly to your career progression.

  1. Failure to believe in yourself, your skills and value

If you cannot believe in your value as a professional and in your skills, it will be hard to make others believe in you.

The best way to build your confidence in your career is to look back on all the things you have achieved in your career, the milestones that you made and the accolades that you received however little.

When you make a decision regarding your career, stick to it, keep your eyes on the prize and believe in the vision.

  1. Fail to draw a line between your personal and professional life

Often times it has been said do not mix business and pleasure. This is a mistake I see a lot of professionals making.

While relationship building at work is meant to happen between you and your colleagues, it is recommended that these relationships remain professional. Set clear boundaries.

  1. Engage in damaging office politics

One of the biggest career killers is office politics. If you find yourself engaging in office politics please know you are well on your way to ruining your career.

Office politics does nothing for your career except undermine your integrity; you will all available uncouth means to gain traction for your career even at the expense of your co-workers.

Read More Of This Here >>> Proven ways to survive office politics and stay ahead in your career

  1. Put your career before your life

Ever heard of work-life balance? It is the ability to have a successful career and still maintain a satisfactory personal life. Many experts and employers are advocating for more work – life balance.

This is because when you learn to strike a balance between your professional and career life, you will be able to life a happier and healthier life and you will find that the process of advancing in your career will be much easier.

  1. Always find problems and never solutions

If you find yourself constantly looking for problems and barriers to progressing in your career, it is time for a mind shift. Instead of focusing on the negative, focus on the positives.

Find solutions rather than problems. Have an attitude adjustment. Also avoid being a fault finder with other people’s career – it won’t grow yours.

As you help others progress in their careers, you will also progress in yours.

Ponder this,

Nobody’s career has ever been built in a day. It takes time, effort, dedication and more often than not-sacrifice.

The vision for your career may seem impossible but like I always say, “keep your eye on the prize” and your effort will be well worth it!

Avoid these career mistakes and you will have positive review of your career by the end of the year.

Perminus Wainaina is the CEO and Managing Partner at Corporate Staffing Services Ltd, a HR firm that offers recruitment, training and related HR consultancy services.

34 Comments

  7. keeping your integrity unquestionable in a working environment is good than being accused for involvement of fraudulent activities those are valueless.

  8. Very practical to current working environment. Purpose to implement in full going forward.

  13. Very interesting and encouraging article. Kindly advice me. Will I be valuable when I persue MBA while having MA in counseling. Is there any relationship.

  18. A very good article. But I would like to ask you to please tell me some of the best places/companies where someone taking Applied Statistics can get the best internship/attachment.

  25. That’s a very perfect insight in the current work place situation. in the words of Hellen Keller as you quoted majority of workers have lost vision for the jobs they are engaged on, don’t share the values at the work place in deed majority are in comfort zone..
    Patrick Kanyala

  29. Thank you
    That is a good insight especially on office politics .The shocking thing is majority of supervisors have adopted this to stay on the job and push upcoming professional off the rail.

  32. Good insights especially on work life balance. With increased demands on performance we end forgetting ourselves which is not healthy.

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