Top tips on setting workplace goals in 2016

Resolutions and workplace goals

While January can be perceived as a bit of a ‘hangover’ once the Christmas party season is over, it’s actually the perfect time to take a step back and re-evaluate what your priorities are for the year. This can be setting resolutions not only in your personal life but also in the workplace; where employers often use the start of the year to launch new products and initiatives, as well as plans and goals for the business.

Too many of us get consumed by delivery and trying to get tasks crossed off the to-do list as quickly as possible, but are we being effective? Setting objectives can help address this, yet when two-thirds of resolutions are broken before the year is up, how can people set realistic goals and stick to them for good? Here, I offer my top tips on how to get it right.

• Choose meaningful goals

Be smart about your objectives and work out what you can realistically achieve. Adding a deadline and ensuring you can measure progress along the way will help you to stick to your goals. For instance, you could commit to learning a new skill in the workplace in six months, such as basic coding.

• Don’t try to change too much at once

Stick to one or two manageable goals at most, as any more than this could overwhelm you. Reaching goals incrementally will also increase your confidence and ability to move on to the next step.

• Be accountable

Buddying up with a friend or colleague makes you accountable to someone. Agreeing to attend an exercise class with a peer, for example, increases the likelihood of you going along. It’s much harder to put something off when you’d be letting someone else down as well as yourself.

• Socialise your goals

Sharing your objectives with someone will bring a fresh perspective and the chance to discuss other ideas and challenges to come out with a stronger, more meaningful end goal.

• Don’t focus on failure

Don’t beat yourself up if you’ve not fully reached your goal. Focus on the strengths and what you have achieved so far to help you grow in confidence.

• Make time to reflect and evaluate

You can set realistic goals but without giving yourself the chance to review the progress you’ve made, it’s a wasted effort.

These are just some of the tips you can follow to ensure a healthy and happy mind in the workplace this year. Remember, you share responsibility for your wellbeing along with your employer. The onus may well be on them to ensure adequate processes are in place to meet employees’ needs and ensure a work/life balance, but if these initiatives aren’t used or known about by staff, outcomes can be diminished.

Take the time to explore what schemes your employer has on offer and then take advantage of the ones that could improve your daily life in the workplace.