It’s 2015 and time for a fresh start. Forget about what didn’t happen in 2014, focus on what will happen in 2015. Do that by creating a list of resolutions that will help you, your team, businesses and clients excel in 2015. A New Year’s resolution list is really a list of goals to act upon within the next year. Writing them down is a good start.
There are all things industry professionals want to do within a calendar year: Attend more networking events, update and edit the company LinkedIn profile page, work harder to improve your company brand. Lists can be short and they can be long. What are your needs? Below, Amanda Corrigan, a Talent Partner with CorTalent in Minneapolis and Brandi Britton, District Director for Robert Half in Los Angeles discuss some ideas and offer some suggestions on the type of resolutions individuals, groups or businesses can incorporate in 2015, followed by an additional ZipRecruiter recommended list.
- Hold a post-mortem meeting: After completing a major effort with your team, gather everyone for a meeting to discuss feedback, says Britton. Highlight what went well and what could have gone better. “This will not only allow everyone to provide their opinions, but will allow you to discuss next steps for the upcoming year to ensure the next go at it will be even smoother, as well as allow you to make improvements,” says Britton.
- Proactively plan: Start on a plan for the next year, or quarter, outlining the objectives and tactics for you and your team. Get input from the rest of your team, too, so they feel they are providing value add, says Britton. This will ensure everyone has had a chance to look at goals and objectives for the coming year and are all on the same page. Getting this done ahead of time will enable everyone to feel prepared and not waste time once the new year starts.
- Take a look at your work environment: As you prepare for the new year take a moment to reflect on your company’s culture. Be sure to create a positive work environment for you and your employees. Give them praise for their hard work and help them feel appreciated and know you see their efforts. Also, make sure you sit with your team when you are planning for the next year and check that they are fully aware of the company’s business strategies and that they feel connected to the company. “This will allow everyone to be on the same page and recognize the needs of not only their team or department, but of the company as a whole,” says Britton.
- Consider a wellness program: At the end of the year, thank your team with a few stress-reducing perks, like an extra day of comp time. Then organize a year-round initiative to educate employees on nutrition, exercise, stress management and taking proper breaks, says Britton. Create times and places each day for people to get together to stretch or take a walk.
- Plan for career fairs: Career and job fairs, whether campus hiring events or job fairs for experienced job seekers, are a great way to recruit and connect with industry professionals. The team at CorTalent is actively planning their 2015 career and job fair schedule. “Career fairs connect us with leaders within the industry we are recruiting within,” says Corrigan. “It’s an opportunity to discuss market and industry trends as well as meet with new graduates.”
- New networking ideas: If you are looking for a new way to connect with industry professionals, consider what the team at CorTalent is doing: Starting a professional book club. Team members get together once a month and discuss a chosen book. This can also help connect with other industry/business professionals and develop relationships with contacts old and new. It can also help solve business challenges.
“This allows our team to think outside the box,” says Corrigan. If you don’t want to do it with other professionals do it within your current team, or with members of other departments in the company if you are part of a larger organization.
- Social media marketing: “We have put a plan in place for what our social media marketing plan is for next year (2015),” says Corrigan. The plan includes figuring out how the company can continue to grow its social media platforms and ideas and market the organization. Do the same in your organization.
- Social media monitoring: Speaking of social media, many corporate recruiters find themselves monitoring employee social media accounts such as Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Instagram. It’s a lot of work, and guidelines need to be implemented and considered, according to an article titled Top 5 Social Media New Year’s Resolutions for Employers.
Among the tips:
1. Properly address employee negativity
2. Respect your employees’ privacy
3. Protect confidential information
There are endless topics to consider as part of your New Year’s resolutions. Here are 12 more to consider or help brainstorm:
- Blog often, blog more: Polish, develop and build your brand and expertise.
10. Get more speaking engagements. Or if you aren’t a polished speaker, consider some training to learn how improving your public speaking can benefit your business.
11. Manage meetings: Can you get by without meeting as much as you do? Free up more time!
12. Find work/life balance: You, your co-workers, staff, clients and vendors will appreciate it. And so will your overall health.
13. Quit checking email at night: Get away from work. It can wait until the morning.
14. Quit reacting to each email immediately: There are times when an immediate response to an email is needed and necessary. But get away from letting your emails manage your day.
15. Meet one new person a month: It seems like a challenge to get out and network at lunch, for coffee or at an industry mixer, but just think if you met, in person, with one person a month. It will only benefit you in the long run.
16. Reconnect with past hires: Check in with those job seekers you have helped in the past. Maybe they need your help but didn’t know you would be interested? An email, phone call or lunch can open more leads and nurture relationships.
17. Spend less time on Facebook at work: If so, the next status update may just be about the new client you gained, the new job you filled or the new business you brought in.
18. Learn a new technology skill: Additional training, especially technological training, can be a boost to one’s career. Check out Lynda.com for some cool ideas.
19. Change your routine: Do something different in your routine one day a week. We are creatures of habit. Try to mix it up and see what doors it opens up or if it leads to increased productivity or satisfaction.
20. Become a leader: Are there people in business or in your industry you admire? What do they do that makes them successful? Learn and apply so by end of 2015 you have established yourself as the go-to professional, the leader others wish to be.
