How to take Responsibility for your own Career

When running team building events, Management or Leadership Training, I do find the very suggestion of the word ‘Victim’ or the suggestion that attendees may be failing to take responsibility for their own career can result in a lot of surprised faces!

We don’t like to admit it, but many of us out there failing to take responsibility for our own lives, career path and happiness at work.  As a result, we then point the blame at our organization or our Manager for failing to support us, make us happy or failing to give us what we want.

Failing to take responsibility for our own career is a common issue which can leave us dis-empowered and often resentful.   

I had a coaching client who always blamed his Manager for the lack of work life balance in his life. He was constantly moaning about his workload and stating that he didn’t have enough hours in the day.  He also felt his boss was too demanding and also, didn’t care about his welfare.   He also became resentful when he would see his work colleagues leaving work at 5pm.     Can you see in this example how this person was not taking responsibility for his own work life balance and in fact, preferred to do nothing and just blame other people?

At the end of the day, nobody is coming to save you and if you do want your career to change for the better, you need to step up, take action and be responsible.    For those of us who are stuck in victim hood, this becomes even more difficult we have decided we are rather fond of the ‘poor me’ story.

However, this keeps you stuck in a spot of self-pity, blame mode and totally dis-empowered.   Ok, you may get to moan about the person who you believe is responsible for your behavior and situation but let's get honest, is this really helping you sort out the situation you are complaining so much about?

Remember, you are an adult now and it is time to start to take responsibility for all of your life.    

Try these steps for taking responsibility for your own career:

1. Speak up.    If you are struggling at work and need assistance, speak up and ask for help.   Your Manager is not a mind reader.
2. If your work load is too much, again, speak to someone who can help.   Also, look at your own boundaries.  Are you saying yes to everything out of fear?   Build up your own personal boundaries and take responsibility for your own work life balance.
3. You are the author of your own diary so take responsibility for how busy you are.
4. Learn to say No more often.
5. Instead of always blaming other people look to see what you can yourself in order to resolve a workplace issue.

Lisa Phillips is a Sydney Trainer and facilitator, Speaker and Confidence Coach with over 15 years’ experience.  She works with large and small organisations on topics such as Staff empowerment and engagement, confidence and self-responsibility.  She is also the author of ‘The Confidence Coach’ .   

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