Reflections on the last year

At the end of the financial year (or academic year for educators) it is always good to pause and reflect on the previous year so we can learn and move forward. Here are some of my thoughts from a professional perspective:

1. Lifelong learning and skilling yourself - To continue to be relevant in whatever career you choose ALWAYS keep learning. If it's a new tool such as Excel or a new soft skill like coaching, you need to continue to learn. Experience and mastery are good but whatever your job you need to keep adding to your skills. Ask yourself what was the last course you did? When was the last time you learned something new? Force yourself to learn and grow. What do you want to learn this upcoming year? How will that impact your career and life?
2. Being Agile - At the start of a new financial or academic year there is always churn and turbulence. This often can make people feel unsettled. Being aware of this every year whether you are a teacher or sales manager, or an individual contributor then embrace this storm and remember that it will pass. Some years you feel you are on the wave and some years you will feel as if it's crashing down on you. Just make sure you stay in the water and care for yourself.
3. Wellbeing matters - Good wellbeing enables performance. But that doesn't mean to stay in your comfort zone and relax. For optimal performance you need to be stretched but not too far to induce strain or burnout

We also know that healthy work is the activities that have varied demands but also have strong support from your direct manager. Having highly demanding work with weak support is stressful and dangerous. So, for the year ahead, choose work that stretches you and make sure you have the support to do this so you can achieve great outcomes.

4. Out of swim lane - I find in work that 90% of my role is focused on by main aims and objectives but finding the 10% of activities such as presenting outside my area or supporting others, mentoring or being part of work-related groups helps a lot. It can keep you interested, allow you to network and meet others and get different perspectives. What activities are you going to do this year that energizes you in work, so you feel a purpose beyond your main role?

5. Create habits for the year ahead to help everyone - When I look back I can see where things can creep in and become bad habits. Early starts, emails on weekends. Start to reset your expectations of others and yourself. Bring in small things such as keeping meetings to 25mins or 50mins. Get off email on the weekends (heck delete the app if you need to, or on Android devices turn off the work profile). Look at all the recurring meetings and check in... are these needed? Schedule time for email rather than living in the inbox. Do you have rules for email to move CC to another folder for example?

These are just some thoughts that hopefully might resonate with you. Do you have any learnings from the last year? Would love to hear them in the comments. Better still create and post like this and share your own.