What are you doing to hold yourself back?

30479901_MIs something holding you back in your career? Here are some things you could be doing that can make it difficult to achieve your goals:

Waiting for your boss to offer you what you want. It’s not always easy to ask for guidance, honest feedback or for a promotion. But those who don’t ask for what they want — and push for what they need — are less likely to succeed.

Not developing your writing skills. Having the ability to effectively write a blog, email, article, memo, tweet or anything else is something that can quickly set you apart from the competition. Likewise, poor writing skills and spelling errors can have a detrimental effect on your ability to succeed in your career.

Avoiding public speaking. Public speaking is an important skill in the business world. Being an engaging and convincing presenter will take you far in life. Make an effort to learn how to speak in public and find ways to practice those skills.

Neglecting to focus on what’s most important. It’s easy to spend a lot of time on things that do little to help you develop your career. Take a hard look at your daily and weekly activities to make sure you aren’t spending a lot of time on things that don’t matter in the big picture.