Ring In 2015 With Career-Focused Resolutions

December 30, 2014 – When the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, are you one of the 45 percent of Americans who are making at least one New Year’s resolution?

If not maybe you should, since according to a University of Scranton, PA, study, people who make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than those who don’t. Although most resolutions are about lifestyle changes – losing weight topping the list followed by saving more money and quitting smoking – psychotherapist Maud Purcell, founder and executive director of The Life Solution Center of Darien, CT, says making resolutions about your career path could reap great results in 2015.

“We humans tend to keep doing what’s familiar even if it hurts,” Purcell says. “Making a New Year’s resolution may give you a much-needed push to revisit your career satisfaction and goals.”

What follows are Signature Source’s favorite top 10 career-focused resolutions. Our advice: pick a few and prioritize your list. A short list with concrete steps for achieving your goals – benchmarking what you want to accomplish each month – is the best way to achieve success. Our list is numbered, although it is not in any order of importance. You are the best judge on the areas of your life that need the most improvement.

Change your attitude. Think about the type of person you prefer to engage with, and chances are adjectives like positive, proactive and enthusiastic come to mind. If you strive to become more optimistic and positive in every facet of your life, especially at work where you spend the majority of your waking hours, you will ultimately be happier, and that in turn could just get you that promotion or raise you so desperately desire. Complaining causes a toxic work environment that is almost impossible to thrive within. If you can’t stop complaining, it is probably time to find another job.

Greater responsibility. Speaking of money and promotions, schedule a meeting with your manager to discuss how you can improve your work status. Ask for a timeline and measureable actions you can take to reach the next rung on the corporate level. This is also the time to create a compelling narrative about the value you bring to the company: the projects you have worked on and ones that you did on your own initiative, endorsements from people both in your company and your clients, and your accomplishments. Most importantly: Listen to your manager’s feedback, take any suggestions made to heart, and ask for more job responsibility.

Learn something new every day. Each day is a new chance to build your knowledge base and thrive as a valued employee. Strive to learn one new thing each day, and that alone will keep you alert and productive. Professional associations, local colleges and adult education classes are goldmines of learning. And don’t slack off on weekends. When you ring in 2016, you will have learned at least 365 new ways to make you more productive, whether it be tips for dealing with your peers or words to use to effectively communicate with others.

Become more organized. Easier said than done, especially if you are one of those people who thrive surrounded by stacks of paper. Although you might know where every piece of paper you need is lurking, it can reflect poorly on you, especially if your boss works in a clear-desk environment. Create a file system, and if needed, buy color folders so you can color code different projects. Each piece of paper you handle goes into a file. Once you get into the habit of filing, it becomes second nature.

Communicate better. Answer your emails promptly. Same for phone calls. If you are working on a team project, let others know the work you have accomplished. Talk to people. Avoid the temptation to work in a vacuum.

Exercise! Exercise is not only about toning your body. It’s also about creating a healthy mind, increasing the blood flow to your brain and making you a more productive employee. Commit to exercising 20 minutes, three days a week. Take a walk at lunch time. If you have an office, close your door and march in place. If you don’t have a 20-minute stretch of time, break it up into two 10-minute exercise sessions. Just be sure it all ads up to 60 minutes a week. As you get fitter, start extending your exercise sessions.

It’s not personal, it’s business. Learn from criticism. We know a personal attack can be devastating, but consider it a learning experience and really listen to what the person is saying. Even if you don’t agree with the criticism, remember that this is how your work is perceived and work to change this perception.

Build your network. Face-to-face network situations can be invaluable, but are hard for some. Instead, vow to spend 15 minutes each day on LinkedIn. The first step is to create a great profile for yourself, and then start reaching out to past and present colleagues. Then search out people in your field and join industry groups. Other sources to explore for contacts are trade associations and online discussion boards. The goal is to connect with like-minded people. But remember: social networking is a two-way street, so be sure to contribute regularly.

Update your resume, even if you are not job hunting. Career accomplishments are often forgotten unless you write them down, and your resume is the perfect place to record your achievements. If you get in the habit of resume updating, when the time comes to apply for a new position, your resume is ready.

Work smarter, not harder. We all know what gets us off-track, but have you ever written down your top productivity killers? It might be online shopping, social media, texting, smartphone games such as Words with Friends or Trivia Crack, or even email. Make your list, and include ways you are going to avoid these traps.

Now you’re ready to ring in 2015.