The start of a new year is often a time for reflection when we consider whether we are on the right path to a productive and fulfilling future. With this in mind, read on for six New Year resolutions to support personal growth and a rewarding career.
1. Enjoy what you do
Your time is precious so use it wisely. Take a step away from your normal routine to think about what makes you happy, what makes you fulfilled, and the values you hold dear. Then set your goals based on a combination of these factors. A quote from the late UK journalist and television presenter, David Frost, sums this up nicely, “Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in and it will come naturally.”
As your career develops you will find understanding yourself in this way will give you the tools to become an authentic leader (learn more here).
2. Devote time to professional development
Investing in self-development will help you move forward with your career, feel more confident and cope with change and disruption. Professional development can be as simple as reading a blog or watching a video related to the latest thinking in your role or industry. When time allows, the benefits of taking more formal qualifications or undertaking longer programmes of study are immeasurable. Joining a membership organisation, such as The Institute of Leadership, is also great for professional development as it provides access to lifelong learning and a community of best practice. If you have applied point 1, professional development should ideally be in areas you find interesting and enjoyable.
If you are studying for an ABE qualification, you have already committed to developing a professional skillset to help you achieve your ambitions. Use your studies as a foundation to become an expert in your field. For example, ABE provides a free comprehensive study guide for every unit, and these offer a great starting point to widen your knowledge. Combine reading study guides with reading business news to see how business theory is being applied in practice - this is likely to lead to exam success, as well as career success!
With ABE you can also access free studying membership of The Institute of Leadership (IoL). Don't waste this, there are resources, podcasts, events, CPD programmes and career guidance at your disposal. Use your IoL membership to gain skills and knowledge to support your professional development well beyond your programme of study. Learn more about the IoL opportunity here.
3. Learn something new every day
Regardless of whether you're studying, this is a great affirmation to live by. It means not being complacent and always challenging yourself to see if you can find a better way of doing things. Consider your workplace projects and tasks and question whether they could be improved; learn what works well and how mistakes can be avoided. This will hone your ability to understand new situations and make the right choices quickly and decisively. Doing this will also develop your skills as a leader.
4. Learn to listen and listen to learn
Learning effectively depends on listening to those around us and being open to different points of view. Talk to colleagues and peers, hear their feedback and look at situations from their perspective.
Develop the art of being totally focused on what people are saying. Don’t get distracted by planning your reply or interrupting. Rather than making their own point, a good listener will ask questions until they have established all the facts and then, if in doubt, check their understanding by summarising what they have heard. These are valuable skills in the workplace and lay the foundations for a leadership role.
5. Invite feedback
Related to point 4, if you are in a discussion and find you are doing all the talking, ask someone else to give their opinion and then make a point of keeping quiet for a while allowing others to speak. If you disagree with someone’s opinion, explain why in a way that makes it clear that you respect their point of view. That way, people are encouraged to share their thoughts and you benefit from hearing a different perspective. Aside from personal development, encouraging open feedback develops that all-important culture of psychological safety (learn more about this here).
5. Be positive in the face of adversity
We all have setbacks, for instance when we don’t get a job promotion or the exam results we had hoped for. When this happens it's easy to feel defeated. But remember, to achieve in life you need a positive ‘can-do’ attitude. For example, if you don’t pass an exam and say; “It’s too hard, I give up”, you will never learn where your knowledge was lacking or get the qualification you worked for. If you remain positive, look at what went wrong and study hard in the area that let you down you are likely to be rewarded with success.
Take inspiration from the words of inventor and entrepreneur James Dyson, who overcame many setbacks in his early career, he said, "Enjoy failure and learn from it. You can never learn from success."
Happy 2025 and good luck!
Membership offer from The Institute of Leadership
Our parent company, The Institute of Leadership (IoL) is offering ABE graduates, from Level 5 upwards, the opportunity to become an Institute Member at a price exclusively for ABE qualification holders. Read more.