Are You Being Sabotaged at Work – Or Are You Doing it to Yourself?

Do you feel like work has been extra hard lately? That no matter how much effort you put in or how late you stay, nothing ever seems to be good enough for your manager?

Maybe it's got you spiraling with thoughts: “Are they jealous? Do they secretly hate me? Are they plotting my downfall?”

While that could be the case, it’s wise to look inward before you point the finger of blame. Here’s how to make sure you're not being your own worst enemy before deciding if there’s an actual saboteur lurking in the cubicles. Plus, what to do about it either way!

What Exactly Is Self-Sabotage?

Essentially, self-sabotage is a mostly unconscious process where you undermine your best interests. It sounds weird, right? After all, why would you want to derail your chances of living up to your potential?

But the thing is, self-sabotage is pretty common, and most people don’t even realize they’re doing it. In fact, research shows that almost everyone will engage in self-sabotaging behaviors at some point in their careers. 

Here are some common examples: 

• Procrastinating: You’ve got an important task to do, but you just can’t muster the motivation to do it. You put it off and put it off, rushing to complete it just before the deadline — and not to your best ability. 
• Perfectionism: Everything you do has to be flawless. You go over emails and documents again and again out of anxiety, slowing down team productivity in the process.  
• People-pleasing: You desperately want your colleagues and manager to like you. So, you say “yes” to every request, biting off more than you can chew and eventually hitting burnout. 
• Being overly confident: Confidence is a great thing, but unjustified confidence comes across as arrogance. You may inadvertently rub your coworkers up the wrong way, or commit to ideas before thinking things through.  
• Letting fear take hold: Instead of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and seeing new opportunities through a lens of excitement, you let the fear of failure take hold. As a result, you don’t reach your full potential at work. 
• Being overly self-critical: You’re your own worst critic. Constructive feedback can send you into a spiral. Even when things go well and you receive praise, you struggle to acknowledge your success. 

Why Do We Sabotage Ourselves?

If any of the instances above sound familiar, you’re probably self-sabotaging. If they don’t, scroll down to the section: “Nope…I’m definitely being sabotaged.”

For the self-saboteurs reading, your next question is probably: “why am I engaging in these behaviors?”

Psychologically, self-sabotage tends to stem from three factors:

• Anxiety: Whether it’s the fear of failure, losing control or worrying what other people think, anxious thoughts can wreak havoc on your wellbeing and trigger you to act against your best interests.
• Past experiences: The words of lousy ex-colleagues and bosses may live in your mind rent free, undermining your self-confidence. 
• Low self-esteem: If you struggle with your self-worth or doubt your own levels of resilience, you’ll find it challenging to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and excel in the workplace. 

3 Steps to Sabotage Your Inner Saboteur

The good thing about self-sabotage is that you can defeat it. Here are three steps to take to quieten your inner saboteur: 

1. Recognize Your Vices

Whether you’ve got a penchant for procrastination or constantly feel like an imposter at work, understanding the intricacies of your self-sabotaging habit is crucial to combating it. 

If you need a helping hand decoding exactly how these behaviors manifest, our free Enneagram test can help. In just a few minutes, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your strengths, weaknesses, core desires and fears, all of which will point you towards your inner saboteurs.  

2. Switch up Your Self Talk

Once you’ve familiarized yourself with your negative thought loops, it’s time to challenge them. For example, instead of thinking, “I can’t do this,” challenge yourself to take a more healthy perspective, saying something like “I am capable. This will be a good learning experience.” 

Of course, adjusting negative beliefs takes time and effort, but keep chipping at it and you’ll notice a difference.  

At the same time, it’s also wise to take an inventory of your core satisfiers. Think about what you really want from your career and uncover meaningful goals. By getting to truly know yourself, you’ll feel more empowered to make workplace decisions that boost your self-esteem. 

3. Embrace Discomfort 

Last but certainly not least, you’ve got to embrace discomfort. Saying ‘no’ to people when you’re used to giving, overcoming procrastination and stepping outside of your comfort zone can all feel difficult. 

Take comfort in the fact that the discomfort is normal. It’s a sign that you’re growing, learning and stretching yourself — not something to be feared.

Nope…I’m Definitely Being Sabotaged

Okay so, you’re confident that you’re putting your best foot forward at work. It’s just that someone else is trying to trip you up. 

Maybe they regularly steal your ideas, leave you out of social groups or bog you down with unnecessary work. 

Whatever it is, here’s what to do.

Initiate Damage Control

First up, you’ll want to talk to the powers that be. If your boss is the saboteur, that will probably mean going to their boss or HR. 

Explain the situation objectively and professionally, and highlight that you just want to focus on doing a good job. 

Keep a Record and Rally the Troops

Every time your colleague undermines you, keep a record. That way, if things continue, you’ll have proof to show the leadership team. 

At the same time, lean on co-workers that value you and explain what’s happening. They can stand in your corner when your colleague is unfair. They’ll also have your back if the situation escales. 

Focus on What You Can Control

Unfortunately, you can’t change a snide coworker or manager. But what you can do is focus on doing your best. So, maintain your professionalism and take the high road. 

And if your coworker won’t quit with their bullish behaviors, remember that your talents and skills will be much appreciated elsewhere.