How to Manage Short-Term Career Focus

When done in moderation, short-term career focus is not all bad; but an excessive absorption with quick fixes and instant results can be hazardous to a career in the near term and lead to burnout. To successfully manage recklessness caused by heavy use of short-term career focus, consider these 5 steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Scrutinize your career ambition. Curb any desire you may have to satisfy an all-consuming need for instant success. Any short-term results you have achieved should be viewed as stepping stones on the way to meeting long term career objectives.

2. Strive for a balance in career perspective. Short-term focus is habit-forming and can throw off your equilibrium to the extent that you may not be able to successfully rebound from setbacks.

3. Manage your stress levels. Too much focus on the short-term can lead to extreme pressure to accomplish immediate individual tasks rather than considering the long-term career picture.

4. Maintain a positive attitude. Ask yourself if you are more concerned with outcomes and results than how they are achieved.

5. 
   Bosses & Orchards

   Nurture your work relationships. Credibility and trust develop over time and must be continually cultivated. Don't ignore people in your hurry to complete a task.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the resources below to balance and manage short-term career focus.

Resources

• Top 10 Career Resources
• How to Act on the Best of Intentions at Work
• How to Play the Office Political Game
• How to Achieve Energizing Synergy in Career and Work
• Re-invigorate Your Work Relationships

[purrfect1969]

on 6/19/2008 Great advice.