If you have been following the news, a recent news item said that loyalty among the top  management was at an all time low .. That there were trust issues as far as top management was concerned especially with the high rate of switching jobs …for greener pastures

Today’s article in a way deals with some such career mistakes Ten career-damaging behaviours to avoid. “O, how full of briers is this working-day world!” is the famous Shakespearian quotefrom `As You Like It’. External pressures, thorns, obstacles and difficulties aside, how many of us are responsible for unwittingly hampering our chances of career successthrough our own misplaced
and misguided attitudes and behaviors.

Below are ten common faux-pas that can ruin a career and should be avoided at all costs.

1. Poor Time Management
Missing deadlines, failing to abide by agreed timelines, arriving to meetings late and generally disrespecting approved schedules is a surefire way to lose credibility and professional respect.

Try to value each and every minute on the job and recognize the inefficiencies that arise from procrastination and slovenly time management and the impact these have on the organisation as a whole.

2. Failure to Deliver on Promises
A promise made should be a promise kept if your professional credibility is to remainintact. Avoid making promises you cannot deliver on. Unless you are known as someonewho can be strictly depended on to follow through and deliver on time you are likely to bepassed over
for promotions and key assignments. When you do need more time or resources for an assignment communicate the requirement formally and professionally and manage the situation to show you are in control and will not be sacrificing on quality of delivery.

3. Poor Accountability
Accountability, a close reactive of honesty is an essential character trait in today’s workplace. Avoid becoming known as the sour apple who usurps all credit and circumvents all blame.
If you have made an error, admitting to it in a timely manner avoids an unnecessary escalation, earns you the confidence and respect of those around you, and indicates professionalism,
honesty and maturity.

4. Poor interpersonal skills
All research indicates that emotional intelligence and people skills are an essential ingredients for success in life and at work.

Whether it is suppliers, clients, superiors, colleagues or subordinates you are dealing with the quality and success of that  relationship will be largely predicated by how personable you are and how pleasant you are to interact with. If you have a reputation as someone who is difficult to work or interact with, chances are people will start to avoid you and your success at mobilizing people or resources to further your goals will be severely diminished.
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1. “They told me at the blood bank this might happen.”

2. “I wasn’t sleeping, I was trying to pick up contact lens without hands.”

3. “I wasn’t sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm!”

4. “Amen”

5. “This is just a 15 minute power-nap like they raved about in the last time management course you sent me to.”

6. “Whew! Guess I left the top off the liquid paper”

7. “I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise to relieve work related stress.”

8. “This is one of the seven habits of highly effective people!”

9. “Boy, that cold medicine I took last night just won’t wear off!”

10. “Darn! Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem.”