The new year is a new start and the perfect time to create new goals for your personal and professional life and a plan for reaching them. Your boss probably gives you a list of key performance indicators and goals to hit, but there are broader things you can do to improve your career that might be overlooked. Here’s one thing to focus on each month.
January:
Don’t wait until right before your annual review to start preparing for a promotion. You should be preparing throughout the year.
February:
Show yourself some self-love at work! Start to track your accomplishments, share them with your boss and team members, and celebrate them!
March:
Write a career manifesto, a mission statement for your career that specifies what success means to you. A career manifesto will help you identify your goals, discover your personal definition of success, and navigate your career path.
April:
People who get ahead at work don’t do it alone: They have a strong support network. Focus on strengthening your relationship with your boss, peers on the “fast track,” a mentor, and a sponsor.
May:
When you have a to-do list longer than a CVS receipt, it’s easy to get so focused on your to-do list that you forget to think about the big picture. Set aside time to reflect on your career each week with these work journal prompts.
June:
Networking is a great way to make new friends and meet people who can help with your career and vice versa. Hopefully, we won’t be social distancing in June, but if we are, these tips for networking virtually will come in handy.
July:
Confidence is a crucial component of personal and professional success. Use these tips for combating imposter syndrome.
August:
Start a new morning work routine. You’ll be more productive all day if you start the workday with these four things.
September:
A strong personal brand helps people understand who you are, what you offer, what you value, and the quality of work they can expect from you. Spend a few hours each weekend boosting your personal brand.
October:
Learn something new or develop your skills by taking a class or reading business books and industry publications that are relevant for your career.
November:
Don’t get burnt out. Carve out time for yourself with these work-life integration tips.
December:
Reflect on the last year of your career. Are you still learning and growing? Are you happy? If not, it might be time to start thinking about asking for a promotion or starting your job search.
