Tag Archives: career

Time to Reflect on 2017

Well, here we were heading to the end of another year. Before the festive season gets into full swing it is a good time to reflect on how the year has been for you.

Take the opportunity to look back on what you’ve learnt, what you’re proud of and what, if anything, you feel needs to change in 2018.

 

I hope 2017 has been a great year for you. But, as you go through the questions below, be sure to celebrate the successes – however small they may have been. And, if something didn’t go as well as you’d hoped, then don’t beat yourself up. Simply celebrate the good things and let the other stuff go.

 

So, sit back with a cup of tea, or maybe a glass of festive cocktail, and mince pie and enjoy reflecting on 2017. Then prepare for an even better 2018!

 

  1. What three things are you proud of achieving in 2017?
  2. What five things are you most grateful for in your life?
  3. What new skill have you learnt?
  4. What was the most important lesson you learnt?
  5. What was your favourite book and why?
  6. Describe your 2017 in 5 words.
  7. If you visited some new places in 2017 what was your favourite?
  8. Which five people did you most enjoy spending time with and why?
  9. What have you learnt in your career?
  10. What was the best compliment that you received this year?
  11. What did you try for the first time this year?
  12. What worries turned out to be unnecessary?
  13. What was the funniest moment of the year?
  14. Which two things would you do differently?

So, that’s your reflection of 2017. I trust it’s helped you to take stock.

Looking forward to 2018.

  1. Which one goal do you most want to achieve?
  2. What do you hope to achieve in your career?
  3. Which one place do you want most to visit?
  4. What skill would you like to improve or learn?
  5. What one thing do you want to change to improve your work life balance?

In January we’ll focus in more detail on how to set goals so that you achieve them but for now celebrate everything that you’ve achieved – no matter how small – and have in your life.

In the meantime, I hope that you have a lovely Christmas and New Year.

45 Career Boosting Tips

Are you looking to accelerate your career but you aren’t sure where to start?

Follow these tips to advance your career, they are relevant whether you’re nineteen and looking for your first job or you’ve been working for 20 yrs and looking for your first director role.

So here, in no particular order, are my 45 career boosting tips:

1 Grow your Network
2 Be pro-active
3 Don’t get too down when things aren’t going your way
4 Don’t burn bridges, you never know who you will encounter again throughout your career
5 Take advantage of opportunities that come your way
6 Set career goals
7 Volunteer
8 Do a secondment
9 Work overseas
10 Get outside your comfort zone
11 Build long term relationships
12 Keep your skills up to date
13 Give before you get
14 Embrace a positive mindset
15 Spend less time on social media and do some work
16 Take the StrengthsFinder assessment at www.gallupstrengthscenter.com
17 Find your own unique voice
18 Invest in your own learning
19 Persevere
20 Join a company that has opportunities for you to grow
21 Listen and learn
22 Ask for feedback
23 Learn to manage upwards
24 Ask for a pay rise
25 Take a lunch break
26 Attend courses and gain certification
27 Be true to yourself
28 Start creating an exit strategy. What would you do if…
29 Recruit for behaviours and attitude then train for skills
30 Get a mentor
31 Be a mentee
32 Don’t be afraid of change
33 Recognise the value that you add
34 Get help to develop a career plan
35 Understand your values
36 Work out what drives you
37 Do what you love and ensure you do more of that!
38 Find an employer that aligns with your values
39 Don’t take things seriously
40 Don’t compare yourselves to others
41 Be authentic
42 Ask Questions
43 Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date
44 Use your holiday allowance
45 Get a coach

If you have any more tips to accelerate your career then please do comment below.