There’s no better time to talk about goals than the start of a new year. And what better topic than your career? The following are a few tips to help you set reasonable and achievable goals this year:
- Get out of your comfort zone—The theme here is pushing yourself to make bigger things happen. Apply for aspirational jobs (even if you might not meet all the criteria); tackle projects that you haven’t before and that may feel outside of your experience realm; or if you’ve never done so, sign up to present a topic of significance to your team.
- Work on a single skill—Making yourself an important asset is the idea here. Focus on improving a key skill this year that will help you grow as a professional and a person. To do this, you can take a course, read a book on a given subject or ask to be mentored by a respected colleague.
- Take mental breaks and just think—Taking time to clear your mind is key to staying focused. Set the goal to take at least two or three 15-minute breaks during the workday to simply be still. This will help reboot your brain and make way for new, innovative ideas.
- Seek out the right leader—Leadership is key in career growth. Do you have a boss that has your back when you make mistakes and challenges you with new tasks to help expand your experience and knowledge? If not, it might be time to assess a departmental move or even a company switch.
- Give back—Volunteering for a worthy cause offers you the opportunity to mentor others, which is great experience for future leaders. Being of service expands one’s ability to connect and be part of a meaningful community—all great attributes!
It’s a new year. Take some time to set some career goals, and then go get’em!
