10 Back-to-School Resolutions for Your Career

It's never too late to work on your professional resolutions.

It's time to face facts! Did you make any professional New Year's resolutions? If so, what did you aim to accomplish professionally this year, and more importantly, how are you doing thus far?

You probably started the year with the best of intentions, but if you're like most people (just 8% of individuals actually succeed at their New Year's resolutions, according to study by the University of Scranton), those good intentions quickly faded. Your good intentions have likely been thwarted by more pressing matters, such as fire drills and the daily grind.

The good news is that you can still make a difference and advance in your career and in your personal life. Here's a plan for giving your New Year's resolutions and professional aspirations a second chance this year. 

1. Make sure you are working on the right goals

Examine your motivations for pursuing a certain line of work first. Do they still motivate and inspire you to pursue your job goals?

An example is the simplest approach to demonstrate this. You may have set a goal for yourself this year to become a manager. Let's say that you were promoted to manager this year, but you realised after taking on some of that position's responsibilities that you weren't as ready as you thought you were. Your plan or timeline may require some adjustments.

Here's another instance of this. Let's say I set out to become proficient in a new piece of software at the beginning of the year. I could use the ability to use Photoshop to create graphics, as I frequently find myself in a position that requires me to do so. But as I evaluate where I am in terms of advancement (nowhere), I must ask myself what I am doing wrong. The objective could not be that significant to me, or I might not be willing to put in the effort necessary to achieve it.

Review your professional aspirations with a new perspective. Be unwavering in your dedication, but make sure you're working towards the appropriate goal.

2. Compress your timeline

You anticipated having a whole year to carry out your resolutions. Let's spice up the inquiry a bit. Consider the following: you have three months to make significant progress towards a professional goal. How would you reconsider the challenge and your response if your doctor informed you you could only work four hours a day?

This inquiry gets to the heart of what it takes to speed up your development. Too often, we add unnecessary complexity to already challenging situations. Try your best to simplify things as much as possible and get to the heart of the subject. It's possible that the following three months will yield more results than the previous twelve did.

3. Compare your career goals to your daily tasks

If you keep your daily priorities in line with your annual objectives, you can gauge your likelihood of making real headway towards your most important goals. If the comparison reveals a sizable difference, work to close it. Even if you want to be a manager, you won't get there if you never step out of your comfort zone at work and into situations that require you to use the skills and knowledge you've already acquired.

You should consult your manager for advice if he or she is enthusiastic about your long-term professional goals.

4. Take initiative

When a great chance presents itself, we jump at the chance. Taking charge and getting things done calls for more energy, bravery, and perseverance. Keep in mind that no one cares about your professional development as much as you do. If the stars aren't aligning in your favour, you might as well make your own. Join a group, pitch in, or inquire about financial aid to further your education. Find people who will back your cause and do everything you can to help them out.

5. Take it one step at a time

When discussing the importance of taking action, keep in mind that even the smallest of everyday changes can have far-reaching consequences over time. Dreaming large can be motivating and helpful, but make your plans for taking action so little that you can't possibly mess them up.

If you want to create a training programme for onboarding new employees, for instance, but the thought of a blank sheet of paper and the expectation that you must provide flawless training materials can be enough to kill your enthusiasm and inspiration. You can make progress more quickly if you stop worrying about the quality of your work and instead commit to writing two pages of rough draught every day. Giving oneself a pass on quality will likely lead to more ideas, many of which could be beneficial to the final product. Trust the procedure, take baby steps, and build momentum.

6. Stay persistent

Sometimes we need the help of others to get where we want to go in our careers. Whether your goal is to speed up the month-end close or land a major client, you can't accomplish it alone. If you want something, whether it's money, trust, or a chance to try something new, you have to put yourself out there and ask for it. That's not pleasant, and most of us would rather not experience it.

To spare ourselves the awkwardness, we often conclude that the other person's lack of apparent interest or reaction must mean that they cannot or will not answer yes. Your first request may not have been met with an enthusiastic "Yes!" for a variety of reasons. Allow the other professional some leeway if they are feeling particularly busy or distracted, and don't consciously tell yourself "No" on their behalf.

Let them make their own decision and option if they choose to reject you. Being politely persistent often pays off handsomely.

7. Commit to being more present

Technology has made us available at all hours, but it has also introduced countless new diversions. Therefore, many of us end up answering work emails from home and doing Amazon shopping at the office. If you don't interrupt that cycle, you run the risk of becoming less able to distinguish between being "on" and "off" since your mind is always wandering. That can cut into your productivity at work and dampen your happiness at home.

How do we fix this? If you're at work, you should be working. Stay put when you're at home. Though it may be easier said than done, committed to giving your whole attention at work and taking time to recharge at home will help you advance in your career.

8. Take charge of your money

Having an understanding of where your salary actually goes might boost job satisfaction, even if it seems unrelated at first glance. Having a savings cushion allows you to make major life changes like switching careers, relocating, or changing your focus without feeling rushed.

Start with a plan, start saving, and stop blaming others for your financial situation. If the thought of creating a budget makes you break out in hives, you should know that modern technologies (like YNAB; You Need A Budget) may make the process easier and even enjoyable.

9. Don't ignore your professional profiles and networking

We're all aware that having a strong professional network can greatly increase your chances of getting hired or getting a new opportunity. Most of us just don't have the time or mental fortitude to make networking a regular habit because of how draining it is. So, while we're between jobs, we have to make the unpleasant and inefficient step of reaching out to complete strangers.

Rather, make a point of connecting with at least one professional contact per week. A simple note or message, a coffee date, or a LinkedIn invitation could all serve this purpose. If you put forth the effort to maintain your relationships throughout the year, you increase your chances of meeting someone special. In a similar vein, it is important to keep your professional profiles and CV up-to-date all year long, not just while you are actively seeking employment.

10. Invest in yourself

Investing in yourself and your professional development should be at the heart of any year's worth of career resolutions. This expenditure may be monetary or more intangible, such as time or energy. When you know exactly what you want to accomplish and resolve to work towards that end, you are prioritising your growth and future success.

In conclusion, you don't have to wait until January 1st to start over. No matter what you do, time will pass, so you might as well put it to good use! If you pick a worthwhile professional objective, plan your path, gain momentum, and enlist supporters to help you along the way, you may find that you attain your goal sooner than you thought possible.