People have been making New Year’s resolutions for thousands of years. While the tradition has evolved, in modern times most of them tend to focus on personal goals and self-improvement. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but much can be gained from applying this annual practice to your work life as well.
Think SMART
You may already be familiar with SMART goals. Make sure whatever resolutions you make fit all the SMART requirements: to be effective, they must be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. (Hint: This applies to those personal resolutions, too!)
- Your resolutions should focus on your highest priorities and what’s most important to you. If you find your list impossible to rein in, take a pause and give this some serious thought. Then try again.
- If they’re intimidating by their size and scope, break bigger resolutions down into smaller, more manageable pieces. For instance, take “reorganize my files” and break it down to items such as “clean out the three file drawers in my office, “put my 2022 unfiled Word documents into clear, accessible folders,” and so on.
Here are some other ideas for SMART 2023 resolutions to make your professional life easier, your teams more productive, and your stress level lower as you balance it with life outside work:
Be reliable and foster trust.
Trust is key to any successful relationship. If you’re team members can’t trust you, you’re in for a long, tough road ahead. People also need to be able to rely on you to keep your word, to support them and have their backs, and to get things done.
Maintain a positive attitude …
If you work on being more positive and uplifting, it will rub off on others and boost team morale and productivity. If you’re struggling yourself, focus on your own physical and mental wellness. Remember, when you make a positive change for yourself, others will notice and follow suit. It’s part of leading by example.
While knowing when to say no.
Being positive doesn’t mean saying yes to everything you’re asked to do. While taking on extra work does show your commitment to your team and company – and you don’t want to automatically say no either – avoid taking on more than you can realistically handle. To say no professionally and graciously:
- Assess the situation.
- Keep your priorities in mind.
- Be straightforward and authentic as you respond.
- Bring up an alternate solution.
- Practice your response beforehand if possible.
Is growing your career or finding your next great job on your list of 2023 resolutions? Those are big goals for sure, but the PrideStaff Modesto team can help you break them down into a SMART plan for success, so it doesn’t feel like an endless effort. Contact us today to learn more about full-time, temporary and temp-to-hire opportunities in a variety of fields including accounting and finance, administration, customer service, healthcare, IT and more. Get ready to mark this resolution “complete!”
