Alright, it’s New Year’s Eve and you know what that means…
It’s time to set resolutions! Although I do aspire to get to the gym a bit more and eat less sugar, I think it’s important to set some leadership resolutions too. I’ve compiled ideas for us that can bring positive changes to both our personal life and our work life. That’s what I like to call a win-win.
Check out these four ideas - AND feel free to comment below with any other resolutions you will be kicking off in the new year!
1. Practice Active Listening
Active listening is listening with intention, so you truly think about what the other person is saying. It sounds simple, but this is a skill many people struggle with. They may think they’re listening, when really they’re planning how to respond or going through a mental checklist of tasks.
Here’s why it matters–
When you practice active listening, you show that you care about the person speaking, and you’re better able to engage in meaningful conversations and problem-solving. This is a must-have skill for leaders.
Start paying attention to the way you listen (or don’t), and then read my next blog which will give you specific tips for this important leadership skill!
2. Embrace Innovation and Positive Change
Ever heard the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?”
I get it. It can be scary trying new things, especially when the old way seems good enough. But as a leader, it’s not your job to keep things “good enough.”
Your job as a leader is to inspire, seek out, and embrace innovation.
That’s how we grow, and it’s how we show others that it’s okay to take chances.
Choose this resolution to show your team that you’re forward thinking and always ready to hear new ideas. Want to learn more about this resolution? Check out a post I wrote dedicated entirely to this idea!
3. Commit to a Better Work-Life Balance
Dedicated leaders often struggle to step away from work. There’s always so much to do, and it has to get done somehow!
Here’s the reality—
Most people are highly productive for only a few hours in the workday.
It’s possible to get more done in less time when you’re better rested. Commit to leaving the office on time and schedule in family and rest time, and you might find that you’re getting MORE done in LESS time.
4. Show Appreciation Every Day
Here’s my absolute favorite way to start the new year–with a resolution to show more appreciation!
Think of all the people in your life who lend an ear, help when you’re stuck, and put out little fires at the office every day. What about people who simply come to work with a positive attitude and spread joy to others?
For this resolution, you’ll want to make it a habit to notice things and people that you appreciate every day, and then to make sure that you tell them. If this is hard at first, you can write down things you are grateful for. Practice this every day, and soon it will become a habit and you’ll have no problem telling people how much you appreciate them.
Finally, for a few tips on sticking to your resolution - here are a few suggestions:
Focus on becoming better in just one of these areas to start, and set a date when you can add in your practice of another leadership skill.
Turn these resolutions into your computer background, print out a poster for your wall, write them on your dry erase board, or set your alarm to go off once a day with a reminder to work on your resolutions.
Tell people about your resolutions. There is power in making your resolutions public. They become more real, and you may have people asking you how they’re going.
I’ll be practicing all of these resolutions, and I hope you will, too.
Thanks for reading, and may this be your best year yet!
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