As the holiday season ends, it’s time to look back and reflect on our professional accomplishments and shortcomings. The question is, how do we achieve more in our careers? On Jan. 1 we set out to better ourselves by establishing a resolution to work toward throughout the year. More than half of us won’t follow through because we aren’t ready for such a change, we don’t know how to go from one extreme to the other.
Below are five bulletproof “pre-goals” to help accomplish the big one in 2016.
- Get organized
Don’t buy a planner then stick it in a drawer. Buy a planner that has multiple uses. Those with weekly and monthly views work great. Get a desk planner and write down tasks as they are given to you, you can’t ignore what’s staring at you right in the face.
Being organized on paper is only half the battle, you have to commit. Set up your day with hourly tasks. Make a list of everything you have to do, then assign an allotted amount of time to do it until your schedule is full for the entire work day (make sure to allow a little time to get up, stretch and mingle with co-workers). Marking things off your list will make you the most efficient worker in your office.
- Stay informed
Nothing is worse than when your boss asks you a question and you don’t know the answer. It can look bad on you and could look bad on your company. It is important to stay on your toes, listen to conversations around the office, take notes in meetings, ask questions and never become complacent. Don’t get caught on your heels or feel like you can’t be replaced, because you can. Great talent, however, cannot be replaced. So grab your notebook for every meeting and be one step ahead.
- Be the office favorite
Not the brown-noser. Be dependable. Get to work 15 minutes early, offer to take the extra shift, be complimentary and recognize co-workers’ successes. In turn, they will do the same for you. Succeed by surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals. Remember, you are the average of the five people you surround yourself with.
- Keep your eyes on the goal
Whether it’s getting a new job, a promotion, new friends, or trying to improve you; keep looking forward. If you are looking for a career change, pick something you love to do. As soon as you make your New Year’s Resolution, write it down. Tell the people closest to you what your goal is and ask them to help hold you accountable.
- Leave the past in the past
Look forward to the future and don’t allow the past to hold you back, break free of what’s holding you back. The only way to fail is to give up on your dreams.
Give yourself the tools to succeed. Follow these five simple “pre-goals” and you’ll flourish in your 2016 career! Keep things Simple, reach out to us at info@staffing-innovations.com and see how we can get you on track for the career of a life-time. Together we can create a 2016 to remember!
Information provided by Allison Price, Staffing Innovations