2023 is almost here. Every new year comes with the feeling of wanting to start afresh. People look at January as a reset on life, a time to refocus. We set new goals and make new plans. We set resolutions— exercise more, eat healthy, read more, and so on. This is also the perfect time to look at your professional goals for the year ahead. Reflecting on your achievements and how far you’ve come, will help you align with new priorities for 2023. Goals can be long-term or short; what’s important is that they are quantifiable and that you have a set timeline to achieve them. Read on to see your top suggestions for accelerated growth in your career.

Upskill
This has to be at the top of everyone’s list. Your current skills may not be of use a few years down the line. Think of the companies manufacturing thick yellow phone books — they no longer exist! A lot of jobs are slowly becoming obsolete. Pick a skill that is relevant today and work on developing it. You could start with an online course. It could be about your industry or something different altogether. When you learn a new skill, you make yourself more marketable. This means that you open yourself up to many new job opportunities. Pick an area that is growing in demand. For example, skills related to social media management, web designing, blog writing, etc. are most sought after today. Remember that upskilling could be about improving your current skill set, or developing a new one altogether.

Focus On Communication

The one skill you must ace, no matter the kind of job you’re at, is communication. We have to communicate — be it in the form of emails, presentations, meetings, or oral discussions with our teams. People who can communicate their ideas effectively are the ones who stand out at meetings. The best presentations are often remembered for years to come. The goal is not to talk a lot, but to make what you say relevant and memorable. To be confident. And to get people’s attention.

Ask For Feedback
Who are the colleagues whose opinions you trust? The ones who you know want you to succeed and grow in your career? Identify them, and ask for feedback. We sometimes resist asking for feedback, but it is the best tool to help you grow. You will learn things about yourself that you may have not known all along. You will be able to pinpoint what you need to continue doing, and the areas you could improve. You don’t need to wait till the end of the year to receive feedback. Ask for it at the beginning of the year, and then every 3 months or so. This will help you realign your goals. You could pick your manager, a peer, a direct report, and other colleagues from various levels of the organization. This could be a way to have different mentors. Try it, you will be taken aback by how many people are actually willing to help!

Plan Better- Your Time, Your Goals
Take some time out to plan what your year will look like. Write down what you wish to achieve. Once you have your goal, write smaller actionable steps you need to take to get there. Reward yourself for the small tasks you accomplish along the way. If you want to network more, make a list of groups that align with your interest. Check out where they meet, and what time and make a plan to attend their sessions. Plan your month and week. This will help you get better at managing your time. This, in turn, makes you more productive! The more organized you are, the lesser your stress levels will be. We know how much stress can affect one’s performance.