Picture this…you are having an amazing career. You are working on some of the most exciting work ever. You just love your job. You are well rewarded because you work hard, you are reliable and trustworthy and most of all you take a few risks, keep your promises and deliver more than what is expected.

You could be the fastest ever person to be promoted through the ranks.

Then suddenly you are not…and you don’t know what you’ve done wrong.

I have seen many a career be killed by a simple, silly mistake.

You could blow your career if you:

• Make promises and fail to deliver

• You complain a lot about company changes and policies

• Think that you are better than your current job and you make sure everyone knows

• Take too many one-day sick days (especially on a Friday or Monday)

• Make your grand ambitions well known to everyone

• Tell your boss his or her faults every chance you get (even if the faults are glaring)

• Argue hard with your boss and walk out angry (even if you are right)

• You abuse the office ‘Using The Internet’ policy

• You aren’t getting along with the important work colleagues that matter

• Tell others you don’t like your job or the company

• Let your personal agendas get in the way of what your superiors want you to do

• You do not follow the company’s Health and Safety policy

• You try and defraud the company

• Blame everyone else for their mistakes which has impacted your deliveries

• Lose control of yourself, get angry or make threats or actually hit someone at work

• Bring your home/personal life/problems into the workplace

• You are critical about the management (not just your Manager, but any senior Manager)

• Make a bad first impression, maybe by swearing or looking scruffy

• You are always late for appointments, meetings

• Refuse to change or learn new ways of doing things

• Use alcohol or drugs inappropriately

• You spend too much time gossiping

• Make off-colour jokes or remarks (especially sexist or racist)

• Ignore your superiors (even if you hate them)

• Are either very controlling or very passive

• Express that you think you are better or cleverer than everyone around you (even if you are)

• Demonstrate bad personal hygiene, especially when it’s hot

• Display annoying habits and mannerisms