Focus is everything – the only way to make the most of 2017
The New Year has dawned, which means it’s time to make a list of resolutions again. If you still haven’t made any resolutions yet, we’re here to help! Let 2017 be the year you move forward in leaps and bounds in your professional life.
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Build your skillset
In today’s evolving workplace, it is no longer enough to bask in a single area of expertise. If you want to get noticed and get forward, then being able to show a diverse range of skills to your employer is a sure shot way to do it. When you bring in more to the table than what is expected, it shows your willingness to learn, your motivation to improve yourself, and your commitment to the job. Adding to your skillset can raise your salary significantly. This would go a long way in convincing your superiors that you are a valuable member of the organisation.
Read more
It doesn’t matter what profession you’re in, if you’re not in the habit of reading then you’re keeping a critical growth agent out of your career. Name any successful figure from history right up to modern times and they would, without a doubt, all be avid readers. The most famous British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, even won a Nobel Prize for Literature. The benefits of reading are massive. It enhances your intellectual curiosity, widens your perspective, improves communication skills and creativity, helps you stay abreast of latest trends and developments in your industry, and even helps you relax.
Improve your online presence
Love it or hate it, but you just can’t ignore it. These days, online platforms have become almost indispensable to a career. This year, make every effort to maximise your online presence on professional platforms like LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter, and others in order to reap in benefits like differentiating yourself, expanding your network, being on top of latest trends and practices, and marketing your skills.
Seek a mentor and mentor someone in return
This year, spend some constructive time shadowing a successful industry expert who can share invaluable advice and unique personal experience with you. In turn, give back what you’ve learnt to someone like a less experienced co-worker who will need it to advance their own career.
Stay Fit
One of the most common New Year’s resolutions in the world is to get fitter by exercising more often and eating healthier. You’ve probably made this resolution a number of times, too. If it doesn’t find a place on your list this year, then you’ve got to add it in right away. Staying fit not only helps you live a longer and happier life but also ensures that you have an equally brilliant career because a healthy body is synonymous with a healthy mind. Exercising for even 20 minutes daily improves your blood flow, which leads to more productivity and a better mood. So stick to this resolution this year and see for yourself how you make headways at work.
Have a work-life balance
While it’s important to beat competition and move ahead in your professional career, it’s equally, if not more, important to take some down-time and recharge your batteries. Take time out to do things that make you happy, whether it’s spending time with your loved ones or taking up a hobby. This will help you release the built up tension from work and put you in a more positive and cheerful frame of mind.
So what are you waiting for?
