When we think about “New Year’s Resolutions” the things that most come to mind are personal resolutions like eating healthy, joining a gym, or learning a new hobby. The start of a new year is the perfect time for a clean slate. What most people don’t realize is that it is also an ideal time to make some resolutions that will help professional growth.
Now is an ideal time to reflect on the year with all its ups and downs, successes and failures (yes, we all need to admit to mistakes) and strategize for the coming year with those learning’s in mind. Below you will find four resolutions that can help you make 2019 a successful year:
1. Listen More Than You Talk
When prospecting or working with customers let them do most of the talking. The more your customers speak, the more pertinent information you gain. This may include insight about their challenges, goals, operations, budget and decision- making process. It may even include something important that the customer initially did not plan to share. Regardless, the more information you have about a customer, the more unique value you can deliver.
2. Be Comfortable with Failing
Failure permits you to re-evaluate your priorities. It causes some potential pivoting in how you might approach your business and reshape your goals. Failure enhances your inner strength, and the ability to look at things with a different perspective. It is just as important to be candid about failures as it is our successes so be confident in sharing both. Failure can lead to stronger more successful businesses.
3. Take time for Professional Development
We are often so busy with the day to day business at hand that we forget to take a step back and evaluate where we are on a professional level. Take the opportunity to invest in yourself this year. Create a plan for how you will focus on you. Some ideas to consider are:
- Seek out a mentor
- Take a class to learn a new skill
- Take time to network, plan it in your calendar
- Cultivate peer relationship
4. Practice Gratitude Daily
Gratitude is one of the core vital principles needed for effective personal and business growth. Gratitude is scientifically proven to promote happiness, improve mental and physical health, cultivate positive relationships, and increase productivity, all of which will enable you to achieve success. Here a few tips to incorporate gratitude with employees and customers.
- Schedule time on your calendar to send an email or text to acknowledge the work of a peer or client.
- Take time to write handwritten notes. Since this is a lost art, it is more valued than ever.
- Send small personal gifts throughout the year to peers, prospects, or clients that tells them you are thinking about what is important to them.
The key is to set reasonable and attainable goals, so you have a better chance at sticking with them. How does our list of resolutions compare to yours? Here’s to a successful 2019!
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