Six Career-Killing Habits Every Ambitious Woman Must Avoid

Women who are successful in their careers often talk about the importance of smart goal setting, the years it took to reach their dreams, and the steps required to achieve success. But just as important as knowing what behaviors lead to a successful career is understanding the behaviors that can prevent you from reaching your goals.

Here are six things that can derail your goals at work:

1. Poor Organizational Skills: It often goes unsaid, but being organized can significantly fuel a successful career. So much of what we do in the workplace requires maximizing our administrative resources. Poor organization can cause you to arrive late to meetings, miss deadlines, mismanage expenses, and struggle to access the information you need to do your job effectively. Take the time to research new systems that can help you stay organized. Whether it’s a better calendar app, a new method for tracking your travel expenses, or a cloud-based filing system — investing time and energy in improving your organizational skills can elevate your performance at work.
   

2. Refusing to Go the Extra Mile: If you’ve ever said, “That’s not in my job description,” you may have unintentionally limited your career growth. One of the key qualities managers consider when evaluating an employee for a promotion is their willingness to take on projects outside their usual scope of responsibilities. Women leaders who go the extra mile demonstrate a desire to grow in their roles and often acquire new skills that enhance their leadership abilities. The bottom line is this: If you want to achieve more, be willing to do more.
   

3. Not Promoting Yourself: You can do great work at your job, but if no one knows about it, you might as well be invisible. If you want to be recognized for your hard work, don’t assume your boss is aware of everything that goes into accomplishing your results. You should communicate not only what you accomplished but also the hurdles you overcame to get there. Sharing how you navigated obstacles demonstrates your ability to work effectively with others, handle conflict, and manage resources to achieve your goals. These are all important leadership skills essential to career advancement.
   

4. Limiting Your Awareness: It’s easy to go to work, keep your head down, clock your hours, and start again the next day. However, failing to stay aware of organizational changes, industry trends, and external factors affecting your company can be detrimental to your career. A general lack of awareness at work can lead to missed opportunities to strategically position yourself for career growth. Stay informed about how your organization is evolving and invest in developing skills that will keep you relevant in the future.
   

5. Not Negotiating: Negotiation is vital to a woman’s personal and professional success. When we don’t recognize opportunities to negotiate in our careers and everyday lives, we risk feeling undervalued and leaving valuable resources on the table. Whether it’s negotiating a salary, a promotion, or additional responsibilities, confidently advocating for yourself is crucial to long-term success.
   

6. Failing to Expand Your Network: Women who truly succeed in today’s constantly changing business environment actively engage with and tap into their networks. Successful women operate on the principle that relationship-building is an opportunity to learn, evolve, and excel. Failing to expand your network means limiting your career opportunities. Approach networking with a mindset of giving rather than taking — share business insights, helpful resources, and support with your connections

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Ellie Nieves is a women’s leadership speaker who helps women develop leadership skills, set strategic goals, build their personal brand, and thrive professionally through keynotes, workshops, and retreats.