5 Reasons Your Manager Doesn't Think You'll be Successful.

Working in HR has given me exposure to a variety of conflicts and manager concerns. Here are some red flags managers share when they're concerned their employee isn't appearing to work out. Are you guilty of any of these 5?

1. You don't have goals you're working to achieve. Take some time to create realistic goals for your job. They can be small or large; but should be achievable and related to the work you do. Talk with your manager and HR to get help shaping your goals to receive the resources you need.
2. You're not being professional. When we become comfortable with our coworkers, sometimes we let the ball drop on our professionalism. You never know when an executive is around the corner. You lose significant credibility when the wrong person hears you discussing inappropriate things. Avoid cussing, avoid statements that make other people uncomfortable, and try to stay away from the gossip at the snack area. People want to work with a team player, not someone they have to be cautious around.
3. Your body language says you're disengaged. Sit at your desk like you're there to be productive! When you feel yourself slouch or fall asleep, get up and take a short walk. Managers notice when someone looks tired or miserable; they want to reward people who look (and ultimately are) focused, alert, and productive. Some other ways people show they're slipping? Not taking lunch breaks, staying at their desk all day long, or working extremely long hours. This doesn't show you as the hard worker you want to be seen as; it makes you look stressed and not able to prioritize your time effectively. Take little breaks, keep your desk clean, keep yourself looking clean.
4. You're not looking for feedback and growth opportunities. Document your wins and shortcomings in a file so you remember good things you did at a job and things you grew from (and how). Think about setting up weekly meetings with your manager and create an agenda for the meeting. Save your agendas and refer to them when you're negotiating a pay raise, updating your resume or LinkedIn profile, or looking for good examples to share in a job interview. Growth isn't comfortable. You aren't learning if you aren't receiving feedback. Put it to good use and keep it somewhere easily attainable to remind yourself how far you've come!
5. You're trying to move too fast or you're stagnant. Slow and steady wins the race (burn out sucks!), but you also want to soak up knowledge like a sponge. Try to find a happy medium where you’re able to give your job 100% but also have time to work on key growth impacting projects (preferably on a task that gets you experience for one of your career aspirations). Work with your manager to ensure that you have a happy medium in the tasks you're working on. If you're doing too much, you aren't doing it well and you're seen as unapproachable by your coworkers.

I'm definitely guilty of a few of these. Comment below if you have any other suggestions to becoming your best self in the work place and showing your manager that you're the epitome of success!