Getting promoted isn't about being "the best."

It's far more about being reliable—and people being able to trust that you won't make little mistakes.

For anyone working in Software Development, here are 5 small (but easily fixable) mistakes most people make—and why, if you can avoid these, your career is going to accelerate exponentially:

Mistake #1: Not Testing

Last Friday, I moved a script higher up an HTML page. I didn't bother checking this innocuous change. And it broke the website.

Always test your work. You never know what the side effects might be.

Add automatic tests if you can.

Mistake #2: Not Explaining Your Difficulties

The most effective ways to solve a (logical) problem is to explain your difficulties out loud.

Not because the person you're talking to will provide insights. But verbalising an issue seems to activate a different part of the brain (verbal and creative, as opposed to logical) than coding. I've often had the solution pop into my brain as soon as I started speaking.

Some developers have a plastic duck for just this purpose.

Mistake #3: Not Asking the End User

Building a complex feature can be fun, but if it doesn't fit the end user's needs it will be a wasted effort.

Make sure you fully understand the need.

Empathy is a software developer's secret weapon.

Mistake #4: Not Showing Your Work

Confront your ideas (in terms of design, architecture, features...) as early as possible with your end user(s) / target audience.

Be brave. Confront what you are building with the real world.

Don't wait till your work is perfect. By then it is too late.

Mistake #5: Not Mentoring Other

One of the best ways to really understand a concept is to explain it to someone who does not understand it.

Help others. It will make you grow.