How to Know If You Are Career Ambitious or Just Impatient
There is nothing wrong with setting a goal and pushing your tail to reach it, but when you are trying to climb the corporate ladder, there is a fine line between ambition and impatience. How do you know if you are asking too much or too insistently?
This post was originally published on the Muse website .
We all know at least one person who crosses the line. It litters your inbox with requests for replies and updates, despite the fact that you’ve already explained your schedule many times. He expects such a big promotion even though he’s only been with the company for two months. And he gives too many comments about how he would run things if he was in charge. In fact, he drives everyone crazy.
Yes, there is definitely a difference between handling and disgusting assertiveness. And dealing with these overly impatient colleagues can be a little painful. But have you ever thought about whether you have a tendency to cross that line? Do you come across as extremely motivated or incredibly annoying?
Well, it’s time to think a little about yourself. Ask yourself these five questions to determine if you are a true enthusiast – or if you are causing the entire office to roll its eyes.
1. Have I paid my dues?
This is probably one of the biggest differences. When you are ambitious, you are ready to put in the effort and take the necessary steps to achieve your mission. It may take a while, but in the end it will be worth it. But when you are impatient, you immediately expect the desired result.
If you try to buy the increase in positions , increase or opening positions in the company of your dreams, it’s important to spend some time and evaluate whether or not you earn what you want. Have you succeeded in your current position? Have you proven enough value to your employer to warrant a pay rise? Do you actually have the experience and qualifications for this coveted job – or should you hone your skills and get a few more years under your belt?
Very few people get what they want from the start, no matter how eligible you are for that instant gratification. So, be honest with yourself as to whether you’ve really laid the right foundation for your goal – or if you’re just trying to skip a few steps.
2. How do other people react to my efforts?
Don’t worry – if you are a little unsure whether you are acting like a dedicated professional or an annoying pest, your peers and coworkers should have no trouble telling you anything.
Do people in your office tend to ask you for advice, guidance, or even support? Or are they blatantly ignoring your 18 follow-up emails ? Are you friends with the people you work with? Or are they scurrying out of the break room when you walk in — out of fear you’re about to ask them for a status update again? If your coworkers had to describe you in three words, which words do you think they would use?
We are not all self-conscious. Therefore, pay close attention to how others react and react to your behavior to better understand how you present yourself. If you are still unsure, feel free to reach out to a colleague you are close with and ask his or her opinion on whether you should click send to email address 19.
3. Am I fair and considerate of others?
I am totally in favor of climbing stairs, but not if you need to step on other people for this. The best people are not only purposeful and purposeful, but also conscious.
Have you heard of “blind ambition”? This is when you are so focused on your ultimate goal that you forget to realize what else is happening around you. The report that you always demand from one of your colleagues, although in fact it should not be submitted in the next two days? Maybe you don’t realize that he is currently busy with many other important – and more urgent – projects. Instead of being a supportive team player, you simply exacerbate their stress with overwhelming and unrealistic demands and expectations.
Needless to say, you don’t want to fall prey to the blind trap of ambition (although I do think that would make the group pretty cool). So, think about those who are directly influenced by your actions. If you get a detailed list of people that will be negatively impacted, it might be time to rethink your approach.
4. Why do I need it now ?
Look, we can all be a little impatient at times. This is human nature. So, asking yourself exactly why you want something immediately is a great way to determine if you are realistic or just assertive.
Take a promotion, for example. When you ask yourself why you feel like you need this step right now , what answers do you come up with? If you think something like, “Well, I’ve been here for three years now and I think this position is the next logical step in my career,” or “I successfully graduated from XYZ in hopes of getting this position,” you are on the right track. …
But if the only things that come to mind are simple, empty explanations like “Well, this is here and I want it,” you may be in assertive territory.
5. How do I respond to a cancellation?
Whether you like it or not, rejection is part of life. Some of the most successful and famous people in the world have experienced more setbacks and rejections than they probably would like to admit, although I will spare you another cliché, the example of Abraham Lincoln.
As you’ve probably guessed by now, ambitious people don’t let stumbling blocks get in their way. Instead, they pack up, dust themselves off, and try again. Impatient people? Well, they are much more likely to complain about their unfortunate circumstances, blame them on them, and then wallow in their own self-pity.
So, while it may sound pessimistic or painful, consider how you would react if you had not achieved this goal. Would you keep moving forward? Or would you just feel hurt?
There is a marked difference between ambition and impatience. But as huge as that difference is, it’s actually an incredibly beautiful trait to walk. It’s all too easy to go from being motivated and driven to being assertive and overly impatient.
So stay in control by answering these five questions, and you’ll definitely avoid sighing and rolling eyes from irritated coworkers.
How To Know If You Are Ambitious Or Just An Old Impatient | Muse