NEW YEAR … SAME YOU!

The new year brings a usual round of professional reflections and aspirational goal setting that typically doesn’t survive first contact with a hefty January work schedule. Different year, same challenges … and then a quick return to the same habits that scuttled your resolutions the year before. Professional Development? No time. Less stress and more mindfulness on the job? Too busy. So then … what can a conscientious employee do to improve in the new year?

The first thing that you can do to improve is change the way you think about your goals. Change doesn’t happen without changes in your situation; if nothing is drastically different, you’ll have little opportunity to make massive improvement. And that, dear readers, is perfectly fine. Your work habits don’t require wholesale revision (unless your boss tells you otherwise). This year, take stock of your situation, and give consideration to making goals that you can accomplish within it. Let’s talk professional development. Education, certifications, and additional training often take time that you don’t have. They tend to cost a lot of money, too. Instead of applying to a degree program or even a professional certification, think about refocusing on the basics of your position. You know these already, but do you consistently and efficiently employ them? Do you practice them, revisit them, and apply them the same way every time? Probably not. This year, one of your goals should be to relearn that success is the result of mastery and effective application of the fundamentals. The second thing you can do first-quarter to improve your professional life is to learn that stress is not a requirement of your position. Fast-paced and difficult jobs seem to inherently come with the expectation of stress. In fact, many think if they aren’t stressed, they aren’t working hard enough. That is simply not the case. Stress is, indeed, a significant cause of poor performance and not at all helpful to you in your position.

To reduce stress and increase mindfulness—and thus improve your performance--on the job, make it a goal at the beginning of this year to track your stressors at work. Keep a notepad handy, and when you begin to feel the effects of stress, write down the situation that caused it. Afterwards, note how you responded. Look for patterns and find out which work situations are the most stressful. Determine if your responses were effective or perhaps exacerbated your stress. Make modifications accordingly … and ask a supervisor or manager for help in managing stress in the future.

By: Sean M. McCray

Finally, as you continue your work in 2023, don’t forget that you have your position for a reason. You’ve already cleared the major hurdles, proved yourself, and are part of a team doing a job. This year, forgo the big, career-altering resolutions if you’re not ready for them, and instead focus on the fundamentals. You’re doing great … keep at it.

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