New Year’s Resolutions for Your Career

Make the Next Year Count

December 27, 2024

With the holiday season nearly in the rearview mirror, it’s time to start looking forward. Many of us start thinking about New Year’s resolutions – those little ideas we have for ourselves to improve and grow. The psychology behind resolutions is well documented, and we can thank the “fresh start effect” for our tendency to use the New Year as way to begin again. We start with reflecting on where we’ve been and where we are, then consider what we want to do differently as the clock strikes midnight. How are we going to think about our jobs, our careers, personal promises we’ve made to ourselves? It’s the perfect time to consider what changes we want to make and how to take steps to see it through in the New Year!

What Makes a Good Resolution?

There’s a lot to consider when making a good New Year’s Resolution. It’s got to boost your sense of renewal and be something that sets you up for a successful start to the year ahead. It also has to be meaningful and in line with one of your longer term goals, but not so difficult that you end up abandoning it by mid-January. Here are some factors to consider when writing your resolutions:

Start Small: A small-scale, focused resolution can help you strengthen skills that set you up for bigger wins. For example, instead of making a vague resolution to “improve my presentation skills,” look for a smaller, more measurable component. Consider “reduce the number of ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’ during a presentation” or “connect with the audience more by looking them in the eyes.” A small, manageable step can put you on the right path to your larger growth goal.
Focus on growth: Be aware of areas you need to improve in order to grow. When you prioritize these areas specifically, you’re more likely to take the necessary steps to make it happen. Your resolution can center on one specific area that can have a broader impact. For example, if you want to grow your professional network, a good resolution might be to reconnect with one contact per month.
Stay accountable: Your resolutions should be well-defined and give you something concrete to work toward. With a smaller, more focused resolution, you can measure how you’re doing, and take every opportunity to applaud your perseverance. Accountability can be very motivating and rewarding.

Ideas Generator for Your New Year’s Resolutions

Your New Year’s resolutions should be individualized to meet your needs and goals, including personal, professional, technical and leadership goals. Here are some thought-starters to spark ideas:

I want to enhance my technical skills in my field

You may be looking to go deeper in a specific skill that you have some expertise in, with a vision toward becoming the expert among your co-workers, or even in your company. Some skill-building resolution ideas are:

Online courses: Look through open-source learning platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy that may have courses in your discipline. Ask a colleague, mentor or friend for recommendations.
Professional groups: Online or in-person groups related to your field can provide resources and networks to learn new technical skills and engage with other experts.
Company-sponsored events: Your company may have internal resources, mentors or other senior leaders who can help you strengthen your expertise. You can also look for opportunities to engage with customers or external vendors who may be willing to share knowledge with you.

I want to be a great communicator and strengthen my influence

Communication is one of the most common skill areas for development, and it’s fertile ground for New Year’s resolutions. In addition to trying some of the techniques described in previous posts (Where’s the Sweet Spot?, Open Your Ears or Open Your Mouth?), here are a few other approaches to consider:

Feedback: Seek feedback on an important presentation you are preparing, or ask a close colleague to critique your presentation right after. Make a resolution to act on this feedback and watch how it helps you improve your delivery and clarity.
Practice: Consider using technology to help you get ready for a presentation. One way to do this is to simply record yourself and listen carefully to how you tell your story. If you don’t like the sound of your own voice, use the “Dictate” button in Word to see your presentation on the page, and look for ways to sharpen your talk.
Try a different style: So many business presentations are bullet points, graphs, charts, and numbers. Consider a different approach, such as weaving your presentation into a story, using more pictures to depict your ideas, or asking engaging questions to draw the audience in.

I want to showcase my leadership capabilities

Some of the projects that you are working on provide natural opportunities to demonstrate leadership, decision-making, and strategic thinking. There might be a way to show these skills even without a formal “Project Leader” title:

Identify a gap: Look for parts of a project that may require more effort or have a potential to go off-track. You may wish to lead a smaller working team to identify ideas to help course correct. Volunteering to take ownership can show the team how you add value and can help you build confidence.
Reach in a new direction: You can demonstrate leadership by exhibiting a growth mindset. Are there projects that you can be assigned to that expose you to a new skill, new functional area or different department? Look for opportunities to apply your strengths and learn at the same time.
Document and learn: Keep your own personal log after completing a project. A summary of the challenges you encountered and what you learned may help you improve your work in the future.

I want a strong network

The relationships you build throughout your career have a big impact over time. Your resolution this year can help you on your way to a stronger network:

Networking events: Seek opportunities to meet new people in your field and learn from their experiences.
Mentors, managers, advisors: In your close work circles, people you already know may be willing to have an informal meeting or chat with you. Building strong professional relationships can pay off in the long run.
Stay connected: Your professional contacts are a primary source to strengthen your network. For many, the value of a network comes from the depth of the individual connections, rather than the number of people in the network. Take time to keep up with your contacts’ latest jobs and achievements and engage with them regularly.

I want to get back to some of my hobbies

Many people took time over the holiday season to rest and recharge. Burnout can be a real risk as we go back to work, so having a clear boundary between work and your personal life can help you find a good balance. Consider resolutions that allow you to get back to extracurricular activities by optimizing your time outside of work:

Email checks: look for a way to limit checking emails outside of working hours. Sometimes, it’s necessary to check-in, but maybe it doesn’t have to be all the time.
Work hours: Find a way to put a limit on your work hours. This is a good place to start small, like leaving the office or putting away the computer at a manageable time one day per week.
Break time: Be kind to yourself by taking breaks throughout the day to recharge. Take a short walk, do a short stretch or even catch up with a work colleague as a way to reset during the day.
Outside of work goals: Just like we have annual performance and development goals at work, we can also have goals for our non-work activities. Think about a resolution related to setting a few outside-of-work goals to keep you focused on this area.

What You Can Do Now

Now is a great time to think about how you will approach the coming year. Writing your New Year’s resolutions will give you something to aim for as you start the new year. Take these three steps:

Choose 1 or 2 areas you want to focus on
Select a small change or small habit to start
Write down your New Year’s resolutions and make a promise to yourself to start the year in a new way
Put your New Year’s resolutions somewhere will see them regularly (taped to your laptop, attached to your phone, on your bedside table…)

By taking the time to write your New Year’s resolutions now, you’ll be ready to get back to work with a new sense of optimism for what you can achieve. And you’ll be ready to start on your Career Planning. We’ll have more on that in the next post. Make this New Year your best year yet!