Risky business: Why playing it safe is killing your career

BRAGGING is not cool, but according to one author risk-scared Aussie workers are now failing to get noticed at all.

fighting co-workers

PLAYING it safe and not taking enough risks is creating a workplace culture where those climbing the corporate ladder will never get ahead, a leading author argues.

In her new book, Stop Playing Safe, Margie Warrell, who has picked the brains of some of the world's most influential business people, says we are not doing enough to promote ourselves in the workplace and are being held back by a culture of fear of making mistakes.

And she says women in particular tend to be the biggest offenders at second guessing themselves and must learn to take more calculated risks in order to boost their career options.

Ms Warrell, who has appeared on TV shows including The Circle, Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise, and The Morning Show, argues women need to learn to advocate more and apologise less.

"Generally my experience and research has found women do tend to second guess themselves and are more risk averse than men," she said.

"Women also apologise too much which undermines what we say before we've even said it."

In her book, the Australian blogger and regular Forbes columnist said the workplace is changing fast and it was time people stuck their necks out and became more willing to get noticed.

"Until we are willing to put ourselves out there and take a risk, we will never be able to achieve professional success and achieve our potential," she says.

"We need to take more risks, get out of our comfort zone and be willing to risk making mistakes and most of all recognise the value we bring."

With that in mind she says there’s five easy steps we can take to get ahead, get noticed and move up the corporate ladder.

1. Risk awkward conversations: speak candidly
People must be willing to step back from behind the computer screen and talk open and candidly, particularly where sensitive issues are concerned. Ms Warrell says it not only builds trust but also recognition and influence.

2. Risk ignorance: challenge assumptions
People must be willing to throw away their maps of how the world works and be more willing to step into a place of not knowing, she argues. Those who are aware of their own ignorance will be more likely to navigate where they want to go much faster.

3. Risk rejection: flout conformity
While no one wants to be disliked or face criticism or rejection, conforming is not only regressive but holds you back from standing out. She says: "Being willing to own what makes you unique, to walk your own path, express your own opinion and do what's true for you - versus what others expect of you - is not easy, yet it's crucial to your success and it's what sets you apart from the crowd."

4. Risk imperfect decisions: be decisive despite uncertainty
Taking action, even if it’s wrong is ultimately more fruitful and productive than doing nothing at all, Ms Warrell says, adding that waiting until you have all the information can prove costly and inhibiting. "In a world where change is happening fast and the windows of opportunity are limited, indecision can be costly," she writes.

Finally and perhaps most importantly she argues people need to learn to self-promote.

5. Toot your own horn
The author argues there's a distinctive difference between promoting yourself to stroke an insecure ego and sharing your value without sounding like a "braggart" - or someone who brags too much.
In fact, Ms Warrell claims we don't do it enough and self-promotion is far from conceited but actually vital for getting ahead and climbing the career ladder.
"In today's competitive workplace, unless you are willing to toot your own horn from time to time, you run the risk of being left behind as the horn blowers around you," she says.
She maintains it's no longer about what or who you know but it's more a case of who knows what you know.