Archive for May, 2021

How to Overcome Obstacles to Your Career Success

Posted May 21, 2021 By GuestSpot

Most of a person’s life is spent working; working to provide for themselves and their family. A career can have many disappointments and successes. If not already, there will be many obstacles that present themselves during your career. The most important things you can do to overcome these obstacles are to identify what you can contribute, increase your confidence, and admit what you don’t know.

Learn What You Can Contribute

Every individual has a unique set of skills that is invaluable to a company. As an individual, you need to identify what makes you special and what you can contribute to the success of the company. If you are good at communication and leadership, own those attributes and help ease the burden of other team members. If you are better with technical aspects, focus on a career path better suited for your talents. You will find the most enjoyment and success in your career when you pursue what you are good at and passionate about.

Increase Your Confidence

A major indicator of success in the workplace relates to the confidence you carry. Managers are attracted to those who are confident in who they are and what they do. Simple changes to your wardrobe and physical look can increase your confidence. Just making a general dentist appointment can increase your confidence by improving your smile. When you look good, you feel good. As you display confidence, you are more likely to be given additional opportunities for promotion and success.

Admit What You Don’t Know

One day, admitting your weakness will be your greatest strength. Admit what you don’t know or are not familiar with. Then commit yourself to learn from others the skills you are lacking to be successful at your job. Continue to educate yourself on your industry by taking classes, seminars, or certification courses. Ask coworkers that are particularly skilled in certain areas to share their talents. Showing humility and eagerness to learn will help you stay ahead of changes in technology and policies which will help you stay relevant.

Becoming successful in your career takes time. Growth and development do not happen overnight. However, progression is what makes us better humans and keeps us motivated day to day. When you learn what you can contribute, increase your confidence, and admit what you don’t know, you empower yourself to overcome obstacles and succeed in your career.

Read this next: How to Get Back from an Accident at Work

Let’s face it – COVID-19 tossed everyone a “curveball” in 2020. But those who were already unhappy with career choices or were in the middle of a transition hit with a “double wammy”. As we are rounding the corner with some senes of “return to normal”, I have started getting more calls about folks who want to engage in a career transition or change.

This is part of a new series on Career Transitions

You have been with your job for years. It’s been hard for you to focus lately because of everything that’s going on around you. You want to fulfill your purpose, but it has become harder, and you aren’t seeing the success you once did. If you find yourself in these positions, it may be time for you to quit your career and seek a different path.

You Aren’t Accomplishing Your Goals

When you first start a career, you likely set goals for yourself to achieve the impossible. However, now that the career landscape has changed, you have found yourself unable to reach your carefully considered goals. While some goals may be too optimistic, yours seem like they should be possible, but they aren’t happening.

Occasionally, an employee will get caught in a rut. They sometimes get through them, but other times they find a different path. They acquire new skills and become remarkably successful at what they do. But this can’t happen if you are trying to force an old career to work. It happens because you leap to another promising option.

You’re Concerned About Your Health

Many industries can be strenuous on your physical or emotional health. If you have worked there for long enough, you may already see some of the negative health effects of the job. Some industries are inherently dangerous with workplaces full of hazardous warning labels.

It is perfectly normal to be wary of dangerous work situations. Choosing a different path can provide more satisfying and less stressful work that is also productive. Having a great career isn’t worth dying for, and if you feel that your boss hasn’t given proper safety protocol, you should shut the door on the job.

You Need Change

There is some value in having a passion for the job you are doing. While you don’t have to love your work to make it happen, it makes your life easier and more pleasing. Change is a big part of life, and you can highly likely find better purpose and renewed interest in working. Talk with your manager before you consider quitting. Ask them if there is any job you could do to diversify your skills. If you think you may be in a dead-end position, it is time to do job hunting.

Quitting your job is no small feat. It can be hard to leave your current working conditions remaining unsure of what you need to do. Changing careers is a healthy and risky thing, but it could be the right call for you.

Read this next: How to Treat Your Falling Self-Confidence in Middle Age

When you go to work, do you stop and think about the hazards you’ll encounter while you’re there? Every job has some level of hazard, with some being more dangerous than others. As an employer, it’s your responsibility to create a safe working environment for your employees. So what can you do to achieve that?

Require Regular Training

Some aspects of safety seem like they should be common sense. For others, it’s obvious that a certain amount of training is necessary. Of course, what fits into which category will depend at least in part on the level of experience your employees have. For the sake of your business and their safety, it’s best to assume that everything will require training. There are multiple benefits to regular safety training. Among others, it will make sure that all of your employees know how to do their part to keep the workplace safe.

Identify Hazards

One of the important things your safety training should cover is the hazards that are present at work. Some hazards may occur naturally due to the nature of the business and industry you work in, while others may be due to human error or mechanical failure. Classifying and identifying the hazard is the first step to take in preventing these things from becoming dangerous. It’s important to regularly conduct worksite inspections so you can identify hazards and find ways to mitigate them.

Provide Protective Equipment

Among the tools you have at your disposal to reduce the dangers presented by workplace hazards are the different types of protective equipment available. As an employer, it is your responsibility to provide the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for your employees to do their jobs safely. When used correctly, PPE can provide protection against injury, reduce the severity of injuries sustained, and in some cases may prevent deaths due to workplace accidents. Make sure all of your employees at every level in your business are using the right PPE correctly at all times so everyone can enjoy the benefits and protection it offers.

Every employee deserves to be able to go to work and earn a living in as safe a working environment as is reasonably possible. You can help create a safe working environment for your employees by providing regular safety training, working to identify and mitigate workplace hazards, and providing protective equipment that your employees can use to protect themselves. These actions will show your employees you care while reducing the rate of accidents in the workplace.

Read this next: How to Get Back from an Accident at Work