New Year, New Approach: Broad Stroke Resolutions Are Out

Each new year brings a tradition as old as time - the setting of New Year's resolutions. From personal ambitions like exercising more to professional aspirations such as improving leadership skills, these resolutions are brimming with potential. However, research has shown that 80% of these resolutions fall by the wayside by February. This trend begs the question: How can individuals transform these momentary resolutions into lasting, actionable goals in their personal and professional spheres?

The Pitfall of Broad Resolutions

The main challenge people face with broad resolutions is vagueness. Goals lacking clarity can lead to uncertainty and a sense of not making real progress. To address this issue, it's beneficial to adopt specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals known as SMART goals. Applying the SMART criteria, as shown in the following examples, can refine resolutions into more precise objectives.

• Resolution: "Get in Better Shape" This goal is commendable but lacks specificity. How does one measure "better shape"? Without clear parameters, it's easy to lose track and motivation.
• Refined Version: "Run a 10K by June." This specific goal is measurable, time-bound, and provides a clear target. It transforms a vague intention into an achievable objective.
• Resolution: "Save Money" Saving money is a common resolution, but it's hard to determine when and how it's achieved without specifics.
• Refined Version: "Save $2000 by December by Setting Aside $167 Monthly." This goal is specific and breaks down the resolution into smaller, manageable steps, making it more attainable.
• Resolution: "Improve Professional Skills" A broad aim to enhance professional skills can encompass many areas without a clear starting point.
• Refined Version: "Earn a Certification in Project Management by September." This clear, time-bound goal provides a tangible target and defines what "improving professional skills" means in this context. Creating subgoals with actual steps to gain the certification would be even better.

By transforming these broad resolutions into specific goals, individuals can have a more straightforward path to success, increasing the likelihood of celebrating real achievements by year-end.

Having seen how the specificity of SMART goals can make resolutions more attainable, let's shift our focus to personal goals, where the tangibility and alignment with one's values play a critical role in their success.

Personal Goals: Tangibility and Alignment with Values

Success in personal goals hinges on making them tangible and aligning them with one's values and interests. This alignment is a potent motivator, sustaining engagement and commitment even amidst challenges. Identifying core values and interests is the first step. For example, a goal like “participate in a monthly family hiking trip” would be ideal for someone valuing health and family. If passionate about environmental sustainability, a goal such as “adopt a zero-waste lifestyle by year's end” would be significant and motivating.

While setting personal goals aligned with our values is important, life's unpredictable nature often demands flexibility. How can adapting our goals to changing circumstances keep us on track toward our aspirations?

Embracing Flexibility

Life is dynamic, and circumstances constantly change. It is essential to recognize that modifying goals is okay in response to changing situations. For instance, suppose a goal is to become proficient in a new language, dedicating 30 minutes daily to specific language-learning activities. However, the individual unexpectedly finds themselves with new projects added to their growing list of responsibilities. In this situation, they face unforeseen time constraints that could jeopardize their language-learning goal. A solution could be to revise the goal to something more attainable under the new circumstances, such as committing to using a language-learning app for 10 minutes daily. This way, steady progress toward the overarching objective can still occur.

Because life happens and circumstances change, there is a need to revisit goals to assess progress and make necessary adjustments. This process helps the individual stay on track and align actions with intended outcomes.

Just as personal goals require adaptability, professional ambitions often necessitate a self-driven approach, especially when traditional career paths and support systems fall short.

Professional Goals: Self-Driven Development

Ideally, the journey to professional excellence involves a synergy between an employee's efforts and their manager's guidance. However, there are times when this collaboration might need to be more robust for various reasons. In such situations, embracing a self-driven approach to career development becomes a means to advocating growth.

To embrace a DIY approach to career growth, identify personal career aspirations. These should align with the current role and map to the desired future role. For example, suppose an employee, Alex, is a junior financial analyst in a mid-sized company. Alex's long-term career aspiration is to become a senior financial analyst, a role requiring advanced data analysis and financial modeling skills. Despite the company providing some training resources, Alex needs more expertise for the desired senior role.

To embrace a DIY approach, Alex takes several proactive steps aligned with this career aspiration:

Step 1: Identifying Specific Skills and Knowledge Areas. Alex conducts in-depth research to understand the key competencies required for a senior financial analyst role. To supplement this, he undertakes an assessment to pinpoint his areas of weakness or gaps in knowledge. This dual approach of external research and self-evaluation helps Alex accurately identify his specific training needs. He discovered that proficiency in advanced Excel functions, financial modeling, and data visualization tools like Tableau would help him progress toward his career goal.

Step 2: Seeking Online Courses and Certifications. Alex enrolls in an online course on advanced Excel skills and financial modeling. Additionally, Alex decides to pursue a certification in data analysis using Python, recognizing the growing importance of programming skills in financial data analysis.

Step 3: Practical Application of New Skills. To apply these new skills in a practical setting, Alex volunteers for work projects requiring complex data analysis. This provides hands-on experience and showcases these developing skills to management.

Step 4: Networking and Mentorship. Alex joins a professional finance network and actively seeks mentorship from senior analysts. This network provides insights into industry trends and further skills needed to excel in finance.

Step 5: Regular Review and Adaptation of Goals. Alex sets quarterly milestones to review progress in skill development and adjusts the learning plan as needed. For example, if new financial software becomes prevalent in the industry, Alex will incorporate learning this software into the plan.

Alex is actively bridging the gap between the current role and the aspired senior financial analyst position through these self-driven actions. This approach demonstrates initiative and commitment to professional growth, even without extensive organizational training programs. An adaptable and forward-thinking professional takes charge of their professional development, understanding that professional growth is a personal journey that can be navigated despite limited external support. *

As individuals like Alex take proactive steps toward their career advancement, it becomes evident that self-driven development is a key component of professional success. Yet, this is just one side of the coin. The role of organizations in nurturing and supporting this drive for growth cannot be overstated. In the next section, we delve into how companies can foster a continuous learning and development culture, playing a significant role in their employees' professional journey.

Why Companies Should Support Employee Development

Research presents a compelling case for why companies should prioritize employee growth. Employee turnover can cost a business 1.5 to 2 times the departing employee's annual salary. This financial burden underscores the importance of retention strategies. Moreover, employees increasingly value opportunities for learning and development over purely transactional benefits such as salary. While maintaining competitive pay structures is essential, augmenting them with robust continuous learning initiatives can offer a more comprehensive approach to employee satisfaction and retention.

Active managerial involvement in employees' goal-setting processes extends benefits beyond the individual to the organization at large. There are several organizational advantages when managers engage with their team members to set and achieve goals. First, it significantly boosts employee motivation, as employees feel more supported and understood in their professional aspirations. Second, this practice leads to enhanced productivity, as employees are more likely to be focused and driven when their personal goals align with their work. Finally, such alignment ensures that employees' personal ambitions support the organization's broader objectives, leading to a more cohesive and goal-oriented workforce.

This synergy between personal development and organizational objectives is key to higher employee retention rates. When employees see clear pathways for growth and feel that their managers are invested in their development, they are more likely to stay with the company.

Companies should view facilitating employee growth not just as a perk but as a strategic imperative. By investing in the continuous development of their employees, organizations foster a more engaged and capable workforce and position themselves more competitively in terms of retention and overall performance.

Consultative HR Services: Elevating Organizational Excellence

"Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect," - Alan Cohen.

Alan Cohen's quote captures the spirit of transforming resolutions into actions. The essence lies not in waiting for the perfect timing but in seizing the present moment. This year can testify to the power of turning resolutions into tangible achievements through deliberate and consistent efforts. It presents an opportunity to embark on a journey of growth and success that aligns with individual values, adapts to life’s changes, and fulfills aspirations.

At Consultative HR, our dedication to empowering individuals and organizations is reflected in the experiences and successes of our clients. One such testimonial comes from Jesse England, Former VP of Sales at HappyOrNot, who highlights the transformative impact of our services. Jesse worked directly with CHR’s CEO and Founder, Gina Nelson.

“Gina introduced me to new resources, like Caliper, which has become a cornerstone of my talent acquisition process and helped me to adopt a true partnership philosophy between Sales and HR that resulted in a high-performing organization. Most importantly, she knows how to create a vision aligned with the business goals and to develop a plan and execute the steps needed to get there.”

Our approach at Consultative HR goes beyond traditional methods. We focus on creating a seamless synergy between various departments, aligning individual strengths with organizational objectives. Our use of tools like the Caliper ensures that talent acquisition and development are efficient and deeply integrated into the fabric of your company's culture. With a vision that aligns with your business goals and a strategy to execute the necessary steps, we help you create a workplace that is high-performing and enriching for every team member.

Embark on your journey to organizational transformation with Consultative HR, where dedication to people and a positive work environment aren't just our profession; they're our passion. Contact us to uncover how our strategic human resource management can assist you in realizing your organization's business objectives.

*Consultative HR is dedicated to supporting individuals eager to embrace a self-driven path for their career advancement. If Alex's story strikes a chord with you and you are actively looking to champion your professional development, we would like to invite you to contact us. Please schedule a complimentary consultation to explore how our expertise can help you in your journey.