From People Pleaser to Prioritiser

Taking on the jobs no-one else wants is a great way to show your enthusiasm at the beginning of your career. But as you rise up the ranks, sorting out every problem - from the broken fax machine to buying birthday cards - needs to be left to others. "Delegating frees a manager's time to focus on other challenges," say Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio, authors of The Girl's Guide To Kicking Your Career Into Gear (Allen & Unwin, $24.95). Instead, delegate, giving a clear outline of the task, and explain to the employee how taking on new responsibilities will help them grow.

From Advice Seeker to Decision Maker

As a fresh face in the office, part of your job is running key decisions past your boss and asking plenty of questions. But in senior roles, asking too many questions may make you seem unknowing. Career coach Deborah May adds that women regularly ask for several opinions before making a decision. "They often consult everyone before putting forward their own opinions. As a junior, you're often looking for permission, but as you move up, you need to exert your authority." Next time, rather than asking what your coworkers think, be confident and state your views first. "This is my opinion. What are your thoughts?"

From Eager Beaver to High Achiever

As you become more senior, it's important to adjust your response when colleagues pitch ideas. When you're the boss, suggesting improvements can be damaging, says Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Won't Get You There (Allen & Unwin, $27.95). "Imagine you're the CEO. I come to you with an idea. Rather than just say, 'Great idea!' your inclination is to say, 'Good idea, but it would be better if you tried it this way.'" The result? You may have improved the idea, but you've taken away your employee's ownership of it. "My idea is suddenly your idea."

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