Well, we are now more than a month into the new year, so how has it been so far? Stop for a moment and think back to see if you are on track for your resolutions. Most have a good week or two before they fall away from their grand planned resolutions and at the end of the year regret their weakness and failing. As you continue into 2013, maybe it is time to make some real resolutions, and work at keeping them, especially those that concern your career.
Grab a piece of paper, and physically jot down a few things. Think back over the past year of work and recall those things that went well, and those things that went horribly wrong. Most of us tend to dwell on the latter, and forget the former. Here are ten questions posted by Alexander Kjerulf that are great to ask and honestly answer:
- What went really well for you at work in 2012?
Try to look past remembering just the failures, and find those things that were positive points in the year. Focus on those, specifically those circumstances that surrounded and made those things a success.
- What did you do that you were proud of?
Remember, being proud of something doesn’t necessarily make it go into the success category. You may have accomplished something you are proud of, yet in itself it was not something that went well for you. An achievement that you are proud of can be a stepping stone for further success in the future.
- Who did you make a difference for at work?
Assisting others makes you an asset, and being useful is a big positive trait. It marks you as a team player, which is a good thing more often than not.
- What new things have you learned professionally?
Think back – you may not have noticed any major career growth at the time, but when taken as a whole, those mini steps may actually be a substantial learning experience. Stretch your boundaries and seek to learn new things, and expand your career horizons. Many people feel their job has gotten stale. Branching out and learning new things can keep it fresh and stimulating.
- How have you grown and developed personally at work?
Look for areas of strength over the past year, and then focus on expanding and improving them, as well as those areas that may have been less than stellar.
- Who has helped you out at work in 2012?
Teamwork is great – and can be a learning process for all. Glean from the expertise of others to help in your own growth, and be sure to share your talents along the way.
- Who have you admired professionally?
Why have you admired certain individuals? Is it their position? Their talents? Their achievements? Set goals to step up to the next level towards those traits that you find admirable in others.
- What have been some of the most fun moments at work in 2012?
Again, look at the good over the bad, and emulate those things that led to the fun moments to keep things exciting.
- Which five things from your work life in 2012 would you like more of in 2013?
This is pretty self-explanatory, and hopefully after finishing this list you’ll have plenty of things to consider for the next year. It is very important to set goals, and having them in writing helps for accountability and focus towards those goals.
- What will you specifically do to become happier at work in 2013?
After all of the previous nine points, hopefully you have begun to see the good things, and can now jot down you goals with a better idea of where you have been and where you want to go.
Whether it is simply expanding upon what you already have in a career, or actually moving on to find another job elsewhere, it is always important to know what you have, what you want, and goals to get there in the near future.
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