Leave your old job behind:

Let's be optimistic for a minute and think about your next promotion. Yes, some people do get promoted during a recession.

Here's a question for you to consider, just in case you are one of them: Why do many people who earn a promotion fail at the higher-level job?

One reason, no doubt, is the Peter Principle, namely that we are promoted to our level of incompetence, where we flounder.

I have witnessed another reason. We tend to take our old job with us instead of leaving it behind.

This is an easy trap to fall into — You are promoted mainly because of your track record to date, not because of your latent potential to be a future success.

And so you tend to assume that if you continue doing what made you successful enough to be noticed by the powers who make promotions, then you will be successful in your new role as well.

Yet, your new position requires new behaviors. That which got you promoted can now stop you performing at your new job.

By not leaving your old job behind, you run the risk that your past success will trigger your future failure.

I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com