It has been said that if you continue doing what you have been doing, you will get the same results you've always had. So, even as many take time off to enjoy the festivities and religious aspects of Christmas 2007, many are also taking time to think about what will be their resolutions for the new year.
However, if the resolutions of the outgoing year were never kept, it’s futile to list another set of resolutions that are unlikely to be kept -unless there's a change in attitude to keeping and/or revising resolutions. Some use end-of-the year as a time for review and reflection. They seek to understand why they achieve the level of success they had and try to apply lessons learnt from areas of no or low progress BEFORE deciding on key resolutions for 2008.
For some employees, recent annual appraisals serve as a useful starting point as they highlighted the skills required to improve their success in meeting Key Performance Indicators for their team or company. The usefulness of this exercise was highlighted in recent discussions with a few managers who indicted that 2008 promises to be a year when their profile is raised not only in their own organisations but in their respective sectors. Therefore, they needed to invest in their communication skills, especially for speaking before large audiences.
You are unlikely to be surprised by my view that effective communication skills are integral to improving performance -whether it's to strengthen team relationships, develop stronger interpersonal skills, increase client retention, win larger contracts, expand your contacts/network, improve service to internal and external clients or improve your skills in making business presentations. Communication begins with the thought –unless you can create the idea you will be unable to plan and/or implement the action.
You’ll do well, therefore, to assess the past year, identify your successes and weaknesses and the factors which helped you in achieving –or not –your level of success. Unless, this is understood, it’s futile to make another set of resolutions that you are unlikely to keep because you are neither motivated nor supported to take action.
It seems timely, therefore, to ask yourself the following questions:
- What resolutions did I keep or goals I achieved over the past year?
- What factors contributed to my success? Was it a result of circumstances, influence of others, team support and/or my own personal commitment?
- Which areas could I have had greater success or impact?
- Who have I asked about assessing my level of performance? Have I asked my manager, team/colleagues, friends or family?
- What can I do better this year that I did not achieve in the last one?
- What areas of my communication skills do I need to improve in the new year? Is it for client relationships, customer service, business pitching, team building and bonding or public speaking?
Best wishes for a new year that is enjoyable - personally and professionally! May you create a stimulating and success working environment and be supported by meaningful and supportive teams and clients.
Veronica
PS. Keep abreast of the evolving training calendar at Executive Solutions (Training) Ltd.
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