Even if you’re pretty awesome, nobody is perfect and everyone has room to grow, develop and become a better person.
With the New Year having just begun, now is the ideal time to set yourself goals and objectives for the year ahead. No we don’t mean stop smoking or reduce the amount you drink (although this is a good resolution to make), but to make achievable aims that will benefit your professional life.
Staff Motivation Training
So, from staff motivation training to jumping off of a cliff, here are our suggestions for five self-improvement New Year’s resolutions and how you can achieve them.
1. Become a Better Listener
Communication is a key skill of an effective worker and is essential for anyone in a leadership position. Not only must you be able to communicate to your team members and ensure your message is understood, but you also need to listen and ensure you hear what they have to say.
During the busy working day it is easy to bark orders at staff and to tell them what you want, but sitting down and discussing their performance is another thing altogether.
A few simple changes you can make is to not leave people waiting for answers. Answer emails promptly and return any missed calls the same day. Get teams involved in project planning, consult workflows and ask colleagues how they feel a job could be completed effectively.
Lastly, when someone tells you something useful, say thank you and that you appreciate the effort they have put in.
2. Dedicate Time to Improving Your Team Building Skills
As the saying goes ‘two heads are better than one’ – working as a team and delegating actions is often one of the most effective ways of getting work done to a high-quality and in a timely manner.
Make it your New Year’s resolution to create a strong and productive team in your workplace. A team building day out can help improve communication, address tensions, raise morale and progress performance. Team building training or group staff motivation training will see you united by a common purpose, focus team goals and clarify team roles for how to achieve these goals.
Learn more about team building activities at Call of the Wild.
3. Improve Your Fitness and Become Better at Your Job
This may sound strange as a professional resolution; however, exercise could not only improve your fitness but improve your overall job performance. A healthy body makes a healthy mind, and exercising for just 20 minutes a few days a week will increase blood flow to your brain, helping you think up ideas.
Not only will this make you more productive in work, but the endorphins that are released while exercising will make you happier during the working day.
4. Take a Leap of Faith and Apply for a Promotion
Here at Call of the Wild, you could make a leap of faith off of a rocky crag and into the Welsh waters below. Like any great metaphor, if you can pluck up the courage to jump off a real cliff then you can muster the pluck to take a leap of faith and apply for a promotion in 2017.
Take some time to think about your career aspirations and plan an ideal course for progression. Then arrange a meeting with your boss to clarify short and long term goals. That way you can evidence your development, skills and motivation should a more senior position become available in the near future.
5. Master the Work and Play Balance
Why not make a New Year’s resolution to start each working day with a smile on your face? Approach each day as you mean to go on and your positive energy may rub-off on those around you. A positive approach is also likely to make you more likeable and more approachable – after all, no one likes a grump.
Of course, there is also the work/life balance. Where possible, try not to take your work home with you. However stressed or pressured you feel, use your free time to do things you love with your friends and family. The much needed break will leave you refreshed and ready to tackle work with a new wave of enthusiasm.
Let Call of the Wild Help You
If you’re considering staff motivation training or a communication course, our friendly team at Call of the Wild can help.Learn more about what we do and how we help people just like you by browsing our case studies. Alternatively, give us a call on 01639 700 388 to discuss your development training options today.
