Seven Career Habits Secretly Sabotaging You – And What Inspired Says You Should Do Instead

Seven Career Habits Secretly Sabotaging You – And What Inspired Says You Should Do Instead

In every career, small habits can either elevate your professional reputation or quietly undermine it. Many of us unknowingly engage in behaviours that sabotage our success, despite our best intentions. Here at Inspired Selections, we’re passionate about helping people not only land their dream jobs but thrive in them too. That’s why we’ve identified seven career habits that might be holding you back – and the Inspired solutions to set you on the right path.

1. Over-Apologising

Do you apologise before speaking up in meetings? Do your emails start with "Sorry to bother you" even when you’re asking a valid question? Over-apologising diminishes your confidence and presence.

The Inspired Move: Flip "sorry" to "thank you." Instead of saying "Sorry for the late response," try "Thank you for your patience." This subtle shift conveys confidence and gratitude while maintaining professionalism.

2. Being a Yes Person

Your calendar is overflowing with other people’s priorities because you say "yes" to everything, even when your plate is already full. This not only leads to burnout but compromises the quality of your work.

The Inspired Move: Check your capacity first. Say, "Let me check my calendar and I’ll get back to you." Then actually assess whether you have the bandwidth to deliver your best work. Quality over quantity wins every time.

3. Meeting Multitasking

You’re in a meeting, but instead of paying attention, you’re replying to emails or checking your phone. Suddenly, someone asks for your input, and you panic because you’ve only been half-present.

The Inspired Move: Close your emails and give the meeting your full attention. If you can’t focus, it’s better to politely decline attending. Being fully engaged makes a far greater impact than being physically present but mentally elsewhere.

4. Invisible Contribution

You’re so busy working hard that you forget to document your achievements. When performance reviews come around, you’re left scrambling to recall your wins from the past six months.

The Inspired Move: Maintain a “wins” document. Dedicate time weekly to update it with your results, numbers, and impact. Regularly share your achievements with your manager to ensure your contributions are visible and valued.

5. Credit Hoarding

Do you find yourself using “I” instead of “we” when presenting team achievements? While it might make you stand out momentarily, it can foster resentment among your colleagues.

The Inspired Move: Celebrate team contributions. Publicly acknowledge the efforts of others and the support they’ve provided. Great leaders and collaborators know success is a shared effort.

6. “I’ll Do It Later” Syndrome

Non-urgent tasks pile up until they morph into emergencies. Those important but non-urgent emails, updates, or preparations never make it onto your daily to-do list.

The Inspired Move: If it takes less than two minutes, do it now. For bigger tasks, schedule dedicated time in your calendar and treat them with the same priority as urgent work. Consistency prevents chaos.

7. Emotional Emails

We’ve all done it – fired off a heated email in the heat of the moment, only to regret it hours later. Emotional replies can damage relationships and reputations.

The Inspired Move: Save your response as a draft and sleep on it. Once the emotions settle, craft a reply that aligns with your long-term career goals. Professionalism is always the best approach.

Final Thoughts

These habits might seem small, but over time, they can define your career trajectory. By recognising and addressing them, you open the door to better choices, stronger professional relationships, and a more rewarding career.

At Inspired Selections, we believe in empowering professionals to unlock their full potential. It’s not just about finding the right job – it’s about thriving in it. Start adopting these Inspired moves today, and watch your career soar.

Let’s make sure your habits are working for you, not against you!

 Mark Goode

CEO Inspired Recruitment

Mark Goode is the CEO of The Inspired Recruitment Group which originated with the inception of Inspired Selections a recruitment agency primarily focused on recruitment in the optical industry before branching out into audiology and pharmaceutical recruitment. New optical opportunities are featured daily here or if you're a business, looking for help with your recruitment needs, get in touch here