The responsibility of staying on course with your New Year goals and aspirations is one of the most important things any leader must work at, to bring about the expected productivity in the workplace.
I call January a consolidating month because every time a year starts, what I have done over the years is to find time to consolidate whatever my plans are based on the reflection I had in December the previous year. You may think you have to go into the year and kick start things just because the year has started.
However, if you did not have that time to do reflect on the previous year and consolidate your plans for the New Year, you get stuck along the way most often than not. Your focus on these 4Ms – Mindset, Message, Mission and Money will automatically translate to positive outcomes in the workplace, whether you are a business owner looking to take your business to the next level or you are an employee who is looking to attain the highest height in the organization you are working in.
What do you use for your planning? Do you write it down as a task list? Do you have a checklist that you check off? Do you put it in your calendar and set reminders? How do you plan? The best way to do it as a worker is to have a system that will make you discipline in carrying out your duties and responsibilities in the workplace.
You are not late by planning the rest of your year in January; January is not late to have your goals and aspirations penned down or put in your planner. I actually finish my plans not in December but in January where I have time to look again at and go through what I did the previous year, and clean it up.
Every New Year is an opportunity to pursue continuous development in your career path. It provides a sea of new possibilities both for your personal and work lives. The cultivating of new progressive habits based on resolutions and goals set will impact positively in your life and translate into productivity at the workplace.
It is a step in the right direction to attack your work with new vigor and passion as an employee because, you will be able to get a jump start on everything: your thinking, your planning, and your goals. For leaders, it is the perfect time to motivate your staff to establish new expectations within your business, company or organization.
Building on from 2021, you have to keep the ball rolling to make sure as leaders that, each and every employee’s quest for productivity and self-improvement will continue in the New Year. Everything starts with motivation and in these new normal times where the human connection is not so much experienced, it is very key. Non-motivated employees normally do not see their value in the business, company or organization and the worth in staying.
Every worker’s growth contributes to the overall progress of the company. You must value development and constantly look for opportunities to improve whether you are a leader, worker, business owner or CEO. Self-development is important in every industry. Leaders should build themselves and provide relevant training to their workers as through that, workers can strive to become better both for themselves and the company or organization’s well-being. This can be effectively achieved when you make your life your project.
In making your life your project, you must learn and identify who you are when it comes to planning and this is regardless of where you find yourself – at the bottom, middle or top in the workplace. There are four main categories when it comes to this:
- Inspirational – those in these category determine how things need to happen. A step by step process for accomplishing particular objectives. They write with aspirations and like to think a lot about what they want to do in many different ways.
- Strategic – those in this category determine why things need to happen. A big picture, long term thinking, which starts at the highest level with defining a mission and casting a mission – high level thinkers who like to be very broad in their writing but know exactly what they want to do.
- Tactical – those in this category determine what is going to happen. They ask specific questions about what needs to happen to accomplish a strategic goal.
- Contingency – those in this category determine how things are made when the unexpected happens or something needs to be changed. They are those who always think of plan ‘b’, ‘c’ and so on.
What do you identify as? You have to find out which one you are. You may fall in more than one of the categories but one will be more dominant. You may also think you fall in none but I want you to take a careful look at each of them, take time to analyze them and that is when you will realize you fit in one. When you are able to identify who you are, it helps you to know what kind of plan you are going to do.
Another aspect you have to find out about yourself when it comes to making your life your project is determining whether you are a process goal setter where you do not put specifics in your goals but plan the process to see what comes out of it or you are a results goal setter where you are specific in the outcomes of the goals you set and work towards it. Over here too, you must know which of the goal setters you are in order to inform how you work out your plans.
As you proceed in making your life your project, there will be so many aspects you need to work on to bring about the needed results. Here are 4 areas you need to start focusing on in your journey:
- AWARENESS
You need to identify your difference from everyone else; that is, know that which drives you and what makes you, to help you make your first journey to Leadership. Know yourself, know your skill, know your ability, and know how you appear to people. If you are able to become aware of yourself, you will always show up in a way where people will come to you without you having to chase them.
2. ANTICIPATE REJECTION
Rejection is an art you must learn. You must always prepare for rejection as it may come through business, life and relationships. This does not define your life Nonetheless; rather, it is an opportunity to continue developing your skills to become a person of relevance. Pre-prepare your rejection messages so that you can use them whenever the need arises.
This takes care of any unpleasant surprises that may cause emotional outbursts. Diminish your emotions and all the self-esteem distractions that dwell on the negative. Always show acceptance and appreciation, and work on that which caused the rejection. Learn to say “Thank you, I understand and I appreciate. I will work on myself.”
3. APPEARANCE
Your appearance is the primary instrument in creating either a positive or negative first impression. People are superficial by nature and tend to formulate their initial opinions about you before they actually speak to you. The way you dress has a direct effect on people’s default assumptions of you. People address you by the way you are dressed.
Your appearance tells who you are, where you should be and the impact you are going to make. How you look – your gestures and clothing, movement, eye contact and expressions all play a key role. Your eyes connotes connection; your smile should show warmth; your stance should exude dominance and trust; your hands should depict trust and respect; Look people in the eyes, show up with a smile, and always make your hands visible.
4. ADAPTABILITY
You must identify your life as a project and manage it as you would manage a project that you have been given. Always be flexible and move on, adjusting to new ways instead of dwelling on the old. Work on your mindset in such a way that nothing will be strong enough to shift your focus from your message. Then, determine whether you are a developer, an organizer, an expert or role model and use it to your advantage.
Making your life your personal project comes with a lot of hard work that results in numerous benefits for both your personal life and work life. You only have to take a bold step by finding time to reflect and consolidate your plans by breaking down your plans into measurable goals and putting dates and time to it in a planner that works for you. You will then see progress and growth in your personal and career life as you start executing your pre-prepared tasks one after the other with intentionality.
To find out more about yourself – fundamentals, personality and where to start in making your life your project, grab a copy of my book The Essentials of Image Leadership.
Are ready to stand out and lead your Image?
Read my book: “The Essentials of Image Leadership”.
Designed with practical exercises for home or office,
This book gives you all the essential tips and
Tools needed to sail with success in your image.
It also touches on dining etiquette,
Ensuring that in every space you find yourself,
You make a personal impact and achieve influence.
