The new 2016 has begun a few days ago, the good intentions are still present and we always seem to try to sum up the year using events from our private and working lives: “What went well and what didn’t go so well? What do I want to do better this year?”
1. Take your time and be honest with yourself
A quick, superficial reflection on your year or idealistic evaluations (“Everything was great”) don’t help you to become aware of your “personal building blocks”. As a result, resolutions are broken quicker than you can say “Happy New Year!” Take a moment before or after the New Year for quiet, uninterrupted reflection on the last year.
2. Recognise trends in your career
Get an overall impression of your working life by summarising it in a title (“In 2015, my working life was challenging because of my new position”). Is your title generally positive, mixed or negative? Try to work out which feelings have led to this impression.
3. Look at the extremes and learn for the future
If you’ve had to deal with events, challenges, or even conflicts and crises in the last year, take some time to examine them in detail. Do you repeatedly find yourself in difficult situations or disputes? Consider what part you played in causing them and what elements of your thinking or behaviour you could change in the future.
4. Scrutinise previous goals and set new ones
Have you achieved your goals for 2015, and were the goals you set appropriate? Use the SMART formula to set goals for the coming year: they must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-focused and Time-bound. Set sub-goals, if necessary.
5. Look at what you have achieved and gauge what is possible
After considering successes and failures, it’s useful to take a look at your own possibilities and limits. Questions like “What can I do? What’s my thing and how do I set myself apart from others?” help you recognise your own potential and focus your own intentions. In general, avoid comparing yourself to others, and instead ask yourself what you can learn from them.
Are you looking for a new professional challenge for the New Year – something that will help you achieve your own, personal goals? Benefit from ideal working conditions at Engel & Völkers and apply today on our careers page.
