By Dr . Jan L . Jones
Sharing Good Practice
Five career pitfalls to avoid
We grow more from our mistakes than our accomplishments . If you research this topic , you will find all kinds of savvy advice about what to avoid in your careers . While the list below provides some advice based on my experiences , the key to a successful career is really self-reflection .
Committee Overload : As teachers , we are constantly challenged to be innovative , develop professionally and maintain a standard of excellence . As a result of this , it is sometimes a challenge to balance our workloads . After one week in my first full time position , several groups on campus approached me to serve on their committees . My mentor told me to say no to all of them . This surprised me . He advised me to get comfortable with the classroom and students first , and then research the committees on campus that I was interested in . He told me to choose committees that are realistic with their workloads and that I thought I could contribute to . This turned out to be amazing advice . When you are being evaluated , it is not the amount of committees listed on your resume that is important , but the quality contributions you made that truly matters .
Smooth sailing : In any job , it is easy to get complacent and even unappreciative . If you feel like you are just going through the motions , think about how you can spice up work environment . Continue to challenge yourself to be better at what you do . Learn new things . I taught the same topics for over 12 years . I didn ’ t always feel that what I was teaching was the right fit . Having recently switched to a new program , I am constantly challenged and excited about gaining new perspectives on a topic I already knew lots about .
Lose the arrogance : Professors are not usually known for being humble . I remember a conference where I felt that everyone defined the other person ’ s worth by how many articles they wrote . Some were extremely arrogant to those who had placed our teaching priorities elsewhere . It is good to be proud of your work and natural to want to share your success . However , arrogance in the workplace can be counterproductive . It makes you unapproachable and defeats the purpose of others being able to learn from you . Being humble and open to learning from others opens new doors . Learn from the people around you , no matter how many publications they may or may not have .
Class Time
Work relationships : We spend more time with our co-workers than our own families . It is natural that relationships and friendships form easily . While it is important to have strong working relationships , be careful about the personal information you share with co-workers . I have seen good people suffer at work because of toxic people , and the relationships they formed with co-workers . As power shifts , so do relationships .
Perfectionism : Telling a perfectionist not to be perfect is likely not very effective . We need to learn to balance our professional and personal lives better . There is always work to be done , but sometimes , it is better to spend time with our family or take a break . Our students deserve healthy , balanced and happy teachers , not those who are burnt out .
Even after reading this article , we will still make mistakes in our careers or do things that we wish we did differently . Let us learn to grow from our mistakes . Don ’ t let other people define who you are . Figure out who you want to be as a professional and build on that .
| | May - Jun 2017 |
17