Posted in Professional Development on 
As 2013 comes to an end and 2014 begins, it is a great time to consider some resolutions that open opportunities for career growth and professional success. We started this list last year and have added some new opportunities to consider. Here are 55 ideas to spark an impactful action plan to improve your career and business. What is it that you want to improve? Are you doing what is necessary to get where you want to go in your career? Now is the time…here is our take on this list in no particular order. What will you do?
1. Stop Interrupting People: Both Verbally & By Letting Your Mind Wander
2. Focus On Defining Your Needs & Ability to Say No When Necessary
3. Be Accountable for the Way Your Words & Actions Are Perceived
4. Seek Out Actions Of Humility: Support The Efforts Of Others
5. Create a Professional Reading List
6. Join a Professional Association
7. Find Someone to Mentor
8. Find a Professional Mentor for Yourself
9. Write Out Your Professional Goals and Post Where You Can See Them
10. Commit to Monthly or Quarterly One-On-Ones With Each of YourEmployees
11. Get a Professional Certification or Finish Your Degree
12. Join a Local Professional Networking Group
13. Sign up For Volunteer Work
14. Be Appointed to A Board Of Directors (Corporate or Charitable Organization)
15. Attend Regular Networking Group Functions
16. Volunteer for Speaking Engagements at Trade Shows, Universities & Within Your Own Organization
17. Identify One Thing You Do Not Like to Do Or Are Not Good At Doing & Create An Action Plan to Improve Upon It.
18. Focus More on the Life Portion of the Work/Life Equation
19. Exercise Regularly for stress relief, good health & clarity of mind.
20. Make a Concerted Effort to “Exceed Expectations” in Everything You Do
21. Keep a Journal and Reflect on Successes & Failures
22. Set & Review Monthly Goals: Measure Success
23. Define and Review Your Career Objectives: What do you want to be when you grow up?
24. Create & Foster a Cross Functional Network Within Your Organization: Get to know co-workers & others, as well as their objectives.
25. Review Career Opportunities Within Your Organization & Externally
26. Define or Develop a Hobby Outside of Work
27. Volunteer For Something At Work: lead a project or join a committee
28. Access Career Counseling From a University or Career Coach
29. Create a Calm Personal Life
30. Focus Your Time on Friends as Opposed to Your Enemies
31. Grow Your Professional Network
32. Seek Out Others That Need Help/Support and Actually Help Them
33. Limit Using Email as a form of Communication. Utilize Face-to-Face/Phone to Communicate & Email to Inform
34. Make Meetings Meaningful with an Official Start, End, Objectives, Actions & Accountability
35. Use an Action Item List to Track & Communicate Deliverables
36. Maintain a Positive Disposition in Everything You Do
37. Listen More, Speak Less: Develop Active Listing Skills
38. Focus on Over Communicating to Ensure Everyone Understands You
39. Perfect What You Are Supposed To Do Before Asking For New Responsibly
40. Support the Efforts of Your Boss
41. Take a Class Or Participate in a Webinar
42. Update Your Wardrobe to Look & Feel Good
43. Learn More About Your Company
44. Learn More About Your Own Customers
45. Seek Opportunities to Develop & Utilize Your Leadership & Management Skills
46. Meet With Your Company’s Key Accounts/Customers & Ask How Well You Are Doing
47. Update/Refine Your Resume
48. Learn More About Your Company’s Competitors & the Overall Industry
49. Do Homework Before Meetings & Set The Expectation for Others to Do the Same
50. Take the Time to Fully Understand Financial Reporting & Key Metrics (ask for training on these documents)
51. Give Thanks & Credit to Others: Go out of your way to do it.
52. Take a Class on Public Speaking
53. Actively Delegate to Your Employees & Your Boss
54. Subscribe to Blogs & Newsletters to Stay Up To Date on Your Industry & in Your Profession
55. Share ManagingAmericans.com & This List With Your Team!
Our list is just a start to trigger ideas for your own professional development. What will you do differently in 2014? Please post here and keep us updated on your progress. Let us know if we can help in any way.
If you haven’t done so already, please join our community to receive professional development challenges from experts who are here to help you grow, learn, and experience professional success.
Good Luck & Happy New Year!
Written by Lisa Woods, President & CEO ManagingAmericans.com Lisa is a dynamic business leader & author, successful entrepreneur & world-class marketing strategist with more than 20 years experience leading, managing and driving growth in the corporate world. Today she provides Management & Leadership Training and Organizational Discovery Tools to help businesses succeed. Lisa utilizes her experience with integration techniques, organizational and cultural overhauls, financial turnarounds and strategic revitalization to help business leaders drive growth. Closing the gap between strategy and hierarchy through the use of effective communication skills, Lisa's techniques successfully align objectives, engage people & link strategy to execution.
Do you have a question for Lisa? Post it in our Executive Leadership Community, she will be happy to help: Ask an Expert
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