“When it comes to their careers, many women find themselves in a bit of a bind. They’re trying to preserve their gains, so instead of playing to win, they’re often playing not to lose.”
Michele Meyer-Shipp, Esq. (KPMG’s chief diversity officer.)
What if the biggest threat to a woman’s career isn’t the economy or office politics, but the habits she’s unknowingly built over time?
Navigating the workplace as a woman comes with unique challenges–many of which are outside our control. But sometimes, the biggest roadblocks aren’t external at all. It’s often the subtle, everyday behaviors we develop that chip away at our progress and limit our potential. These habits can make us seem less competent, slow our career growth, and create unnecessary setbacks at critical moments.
The good news? Bad habits can be unlearned. Awareness is the first step toward change, and small adjustments can create a big shift in the way others perceive you, and how far you can go. Whether you’re aiming for a leadership role, hoping to stay visible during layoffs, or simply looking to secure your next promotion, paying attention to these behaviors could be the key to protecting and advancing a woman’s career.
Let’s look at seven habits that might be holding you back, and how you can break them before they get in the way of everything you’ve worked for.
1. Downplaying achievements
One of the most subtle but damaging habits that can threaten a woman’s career is the tendency to downplay personal achievements. Many women struggle with openly sharing their successes, worried that it might come off as arrogant or self-centered.
However, the reality is that underselling your contributions can leave you overlooked when it matters most, whether you’re up for a promotion, vying for a raise, or being considered for a leadership role.
Beyond missed opportunities, downplaying your achievements could also put you at greater risk during layoffs. In times of organizational change or restructuring, companies often base decisions on perceived visible performance and value.
If your accomplishments aren’t known or acknowledged, decision-makers may assume you’ve made a smaller impact than you actually have. The unfortunate truth is that staying silent about your wins can make you more vulnerable to being seen as non-essential or replaceable.
Solution:
Make it a habit to share your accomplishments with confidence during meetings, performance reviews, or casual conversations with peers and managers. Instead of brushing off compliments or saying, “It was nothing,” practice owning your success with statements like, “Thank you, I worked really hard on that project,” or “I’m proud of the results we achieved.” You can be both humble and assertive, acknowledging your efforts without apology.
Remember, celebrating your achievements isn’t about showing off; it’s about protecting the value you bring to your role. In today’s challenging job market, visibility matters. Making sure your contributions are known is not just smart, it’s essential to building and safeguarding a strong woman’s career.
2. Avoiding networking
In today’s unpredictable job market, avoiding networking is a risky habit that can quietly jeopardize a woman’s career. Many women hesitate to engage in networking, viewing it as superficial or unnecessary. Others feel too overwhelmed balancing work and personal responsibilities to prioritize building professional connections. But the truth is, neglecting networking can have serious consequences, especially in a job climate where layoffs are looming.
When seeking a promotion or raise, remember that decisions are often influenced not only by performance but also by visibility within the organization and industry. If you’re not actively connecting with peers, mentors, or influencers in your field, you could miss critical career-saving opportunities, such as internal referrals, endorsements, or early leads on new roles. Strong networks also provide a support system in times of uncertainty, offering career guidance, job openings, and introductions when you need them most.
Solution:
Make networking a regular part of your routine. You don’t need to attend every event or spend hours on LinkedIn, but even small steps can make a big difference. Set a weekly goal to connect with at least one colleague, attend one virtual or in-person industry event, or engage meaningfully on professional platforms. A simple coffee chat, commenting on someone’s post, or attending a webinar can plant seeds that may grow into future opportunities.
Building a solid network isn’t just about expanding your circle, it’s about ensuring you stay visible and connected. In a competitive market, these relationships could be the key to avoiding layoffs, finding your next opportunity, or advancing your career when the time is right. Networking isn’t optional, it’s a lifeline for any woman’s career.
3. Saying “yes” to everything
The desire to be liked or seen as a dependable team player can push women into a dangerous pattern of over-committing. It might feel like saying “yes” to every request shows dedication, but consistently taking on too much comes with a steep price: your productivity, mental health, and ultimately, your career. When you stretch yourself too thin, the quality of your work can suffer, and burnout becomes inevitable. This not only risks your well-being but can also damage your professional reputation over time.
But, over-committing can backfire, especially when it comes to “non-promotable work.” While it may seem that being the person who says “yes” to everything ensures job security, the opposite can happen.
Burnout can lead to mistakes, missed deadlines, and under-performance, all of which can put you on the radar for downsizing. If leadership sees you as someone spread too thin, they may mistakenly believe you’re not able to handle the demands of your role, or that your work isn’t making the impact needed to justify your position.
Solution:
Setting boundaries isn’t about saying “no” to everything. It’s about being strategic with your time and energy. Learn to assess which tasks align with your long-term goals and politely decline those that don’t fit your current bandwidth.
“This is what successful women do best. The art of saying no is their favorite word. It allows them to stay in alignment with their core values and avoid projects that veer them off track,” writes Ashley Elizabeth for LifeHack.org.
Try saying, “I’d love to help, but my schedule is tight right now. Let’s revisit this later,” or suggest alternative solutions. By prioritizing meaningful work, you’ll protect your productivity, maintain high-quality output, and avoid burnout.
Saying “yes” selectively ensures you say “yes” to work that gets you the attention you deserve– a smart strategy for sustaining a woman’s career.
4. Neglecting self-care
Balancing work and personal life is a constant struggle for many women. With the pressure to perform at work and manage personal responsibilities, self-care often falls to the bottom of the priority list.
But neglecting your physical, mental, or emotional well-being can have serious consequences for a woman’s career. Burnout, stress, and fatigue don’t just affect your mood; they diminish productivity, increase absenteeism, and lower the quality of your work over time.
When stress takes over, it’s easy to fall behind on deadlines, miss important meetings, or make mistakes–all of which can raise red flags with leadership. Fatigue can make it harder to stay focused, creative, or engaged, which may lead to being overlooked for key projects or worse, flagged as under-performing during downsizing evaluations. In short, neglecting self-care could quietly put your job security at risk.
Solution:
Prioritize your well-being the same way you prioritize work deadlines. Schedule regular breaks throughout the day, move your body with activities you enjoy, and make time for rest, whether it’s a full night’s sleep or moments of stillness. Even small habits, like five minutes of mindfulness or a walk around the block, can improve your focus and resilience.
Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish; it’s essential for sustaining long-term success. A healthy mind and body allow you to bring your best self to work, helping you stay sharp, productive, and visible in your role. In today’s job market, where every contribution counts, your well-being is not just a personal priority, it’s a professional asset that helps protect your career.
5. Staying silent in meetings
Many women hold back from speaking up in meetings–in person and online–fearing that their ideas might be dismissed, judged, or misunderstood. This hesitation is understandable, especially in environments where women have historically faced bias. However, staying silent can have lasting consequences for a woman’s career.
“In the course of their careers, women will be in many mixed-gender meetings with people who have considerable control over their compensation and advancement,” writes Andie Kramer, for Forbes. “It is essential, therefore, that women be at the top of their game in mixed-gender meetings.”
When you don’t voice your thoughts, you miss critical opportunities to position yourself as a thought leader, demonstrate your expertise, and influence key decisions. It may give the impression that you’re not fully engaged or that your role isn’t essential. This misperception could reduce your influence and even make you a target for downsizing, despite the quality of work you’re doing behind the scenes.
Solution:
Prepare ahead of meetings by identifying a few key points you want to share. This can help you feel more confident when it’s time to contribute. If speaking spontaneously feels intimidating, practice introducing your ideas with phrases like, “I’d like to build on that point,” or, “Here’s another approach we might consider.”
Remember that your voice matters as much as anyone else’s in the room, and sharing your insights isn’t just about being heard, it’s about ensuring your value is recognized.
Being vocal in meetings is more than a career boost, it’s a career safeguard. Speaking up allows you to stay visible, show leadership, and demonstrate that you’re actively contributing. Your ideas are worth sharing, and doing so could be the difference between being seen as an asset or being overlooked when tough decisions are made.
6. Being afraid to take risks
A reluctance to step out of your comfort zone is one of the most career-limiting habits a woman can develop. It’s easy to stick with what feels safe, whether it’s staying in a familiar role, avoiding difficult conversations like asking for a raise, or passing up challenging projects.
But playing it safe for too long can lead to stagnation, holding you back from reaching your full potential. When you avoid risks, you not only limit your growth but also miss out on opportunities to showcase leadership, gain new skills, and make a bigger impact in your field.
In today’s job market, staying in your comfort zone carries more risks than rewards. During layoffs, for example, companies look for employees who show adaptability, initiative, and a willingness to take on new challenges. If you’re perceived as someone who resists change or avoids risk, it could make you more vulnerable when tough decisions are being made.
On the flip side, stepping up for high-visibility projects or expressing interest in new roles can help establish you as an essential, proactive team member–someone worth keeping during restructuring.
Solution:
Push yourself to embrace opportunities that challenge you, even if they feel intimidating at first. This could mean volunteering for an innovative project, learning a skill outside your usual expertise, or finally having that conversation about a promotion. Not every risk will pay off immediately, but the experience and lessons you gain will be invaluable.
Growth only happens when you’re willing to get uncomfortable. By pushing your limits, you’ll expand your skills, build resilience, and demonstrate that you’re ready to handle whatever comes your way. Taking smart risks isn’t just about personal growth. It’s about making sure your value is visible and undeniable in a competitive job market. Staying in your comfort zone might feel safe, but in the long run, it could put your career–and your job–at greater risk.
7. Letting perfectionism hold you back
Perfectionism can feel like a virtue, but in reality, it’s often paralyzing. Many women fall into the trap of striving for perfection, believing that flawless work will earn recognition and protect them from criticism. However, this habit can have the opposite effect, leading to delayed tasks, hesitation to take on new responsibilities, and constant self-criticism. Over time, perfectionism can stifle creativity, slow progress, and become a major obstacle to career growth.
In a volatile job market, perfectionism carries even greater risks. When companies are evaluating employees, speed, adaptability, and results tend to matter more than flawless execution.
Perfectionism can make you appear indecisive or inefficient, which could raise concerns about your ability to meet tight deadlines or take initiative. Leaders need to know they can rely on you to deliver not just when everything is perfect, but when quick and effective decisions are required.
Solution:
Shift your focus from perfection to progress. Aim to do your best, but recognize that perfection is an unrealistic standard that can hold you back more than it helps. Instead of getting stuck in endless revisions, ask yourself, “Is this good enough to move forward?” Learn to embrace feedback and treat mistakes as opportunities for growth, rather than as failures.
Progress, not perfection, is what drives career advancement. By delivering quality work consistently, even if it’s not flawless, you’ll show that you are reliable, adaptable, and capable of meeting challenges head-on. In today’s job market, perfectionism can stall momentum. Progress, however, will keep you moving forward and protect your career from becoming stagnant. Or worse, vulnerable.
Wrap up
By recognizing and overcoming these detrimental habits, women can empower themselves to thrive in their careers. Whether it’s building a strong network, speaking up with confidence, or prioritizing well-being, small, intentional changes can open the door to meaningful opportunities and unlock paths to career advancement.
And, in today’s uncertain job market, taking control of these behaviors not only boosts career growth but also strengthens job security, positioning you for leadership roles and long-term success.
Ensuring your contributions are recognized and valued when it matters most is key to moving forward and reaching your full professional potential.
Do you find yourself needing to kick one of these self-defeating habits? You aren’t alone! Find out how our Career Coaches can help you kick these habits for good!