5 signs you’re not holding yourself professionally accountable

However, I also often see students who are unable or unwilling to take responsibility for their own choices. These people unwittingly sabotage their own professional fulfillment and personal happiness.

It isn’t just students who do that. Professionals do it, too.

Here are five signs you are not being accountable and ways to change these negative, self-sabotaging habits:

1. Excuses, excuses. Do you blame your parents, roommate, significant other, unfair professors, bad bosses, the economy, etc., for your issues and problems? If you answered yes, you are already in self-defeat mode.

Instead of coming up with the list of excuses of why things have not gone your way, consider how you can change your behaviors and attitudes. Take responsibility for yourself and your choices.

It doesn’t matter whether you work on a team, or whether your professor or boss is difficult and unreasonable. The actions you take and the mindset you hold is yours alone. If you are committed to positive results, academically, personally and professionally, you can take the initiative and action and to make things happen. This also means you take responsibility for your role in both successes and mistakes.