Are you going to promise yourself you'll spend more time with family than your Board of Trustees? Is 2014 going to be the year to master Twitter? Are you making another resolution pertaining to your fundraising goals? How about starting to take lunch. It can go on and on and on...
Here's 3 tips on how to make your professional New Year's resolutions achievable! Break up that "big, hairy, audacious resolution" into smaller strategies you can easily accomplish. For example, if your ultimate goal is to get a new job in 2014 then you might change your resolution to "In the first quarter of 2014 I'm going to get my resume up to date." Or an even simpler resolution, "I'm going to tell everyone I meet that I'm beginning to look for a new position."
Appoint a "Resolution Buddy." Can you confide in one of your work friends? Ask him or her to confide in you too? You may be pleasantly surprised to find yourselves having the same resolution: "This year I'm going to bring in a piece of business for my company." How much fun will that be helping each other accomplish that goal!?
When you write it down - it's a commitment! Develop the path to your goal and simply write it up. Use whatever tool makes you most comfortable - Outlook calendar, notebook, smart phone - set the plan and set up those reminders now. For example, if your resolution is to submit your monthly expense reports in a more timely fashion, then go ahead and set recurring reminders mid-month. If you're looking to build a better network, set a recurring note in your calendar to check LinkedIn at the same time each day or a reminder to peruse the internet for networking opportunities.
New Year's resolutions can work for you if you make them small and achievable. Don't make too many and remember, don't compare these to birthday wishes when you close your eyes, blow out candles and keep it to yourself. Tell a friend. Tell a co-worker. Tell your family. Everyone will want to help you.
Holly Koenig is Vice President of Kellen Company and serves as the chief staff executive for a number of professional societies and trade groups. Holly also volunteers as a member of the NYC Chapter Trustee Development Committee for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and also Chairs the Advisory Board for Mentoring USA, an organization founded by Matilda Raffa Cuomo.
On Friday, January 10th, Holly will facilitate the Executive Women in Nonprofits Shared Interest Group for female CEOs and Executive Directors of Associations and nonprofit organizations. The topic is "Achieving your New Year's Resolutions." For more information on attending this SIG, contact Holly at Hkoenig@... or 212.297.2123.
Have a happy holiday!