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7 Career Resolutions for 2023

career resolutions for 2023
By Yvonne Milosevic

2022 was yet another rollercoaster year for the inhabitants of our besieged planet. Working from home took its toll on many professionals. So, some of us went back to the office—at least in hybrid form. Even though tech had a banner year in 2021, the supposedly future-proof industry learned it could be susceptible to layoffs like anyone else. And let’s not forget how “quiet quitting” became the viral phrase of the year to describe a general malaise felt by workers everywhere.

But even if you’re feeling less motivated to turn over a new leaf in the new year, you can still make some pain-free changes that will benefit you professionally and personally. The following career resolutions for 2023, culled from this year’s most popular Blacklight posts, are a low-lift way to make real progress toward the things that matter most.

7 Career Resolutions for 2023

1. Resolve to improve your EQ.

You might have all the technical skills in the world under your belt—and be brilliant as heck—but still have trouble advancing to a leadership role in your company. Kellogg School of Management professor Brenda Ellington Booth shared her tips for boosting emotional awareness with Jessica Love of Kellogg’s The Insightful Leader podcast.

2. Resolve to embrace your identity.

When it comes to asking for career guidance, researchers at the Wharton School found that people who leaned into their minority identity were more likely to receive help than those who did not mention their race or gender. Doctoral candidate Erika Kirgios said the study also has implications for the workplace from a managerial standpoint. It suggests that employees will think more about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) if companies prioritize those principles.

3. Resolve to increase your influence.

Do you consider yourself a charismatic person? Many of us could learn a thing or two about charisma and the art of persuasion. If you want to increase your influence on others, it helps to understand a few basic principles. According to Yale SOM professor Zoe Chance and her latest book, Influence is Your Superpower, it all starts with alligators and judges.

increase your influence

4. Resolve to become more adaptable.

We’re living in the digital age, but that doesn’t mean the skills we’ll need to thrive professionally center on technology. Research in Harvard Business Review pointed to other qualities that matter more than digital literacy. Think of squishier traits such as adaptability, emotional intelligence, and curiosity.

According to the study, “71 percent of 1,500 executives … in more than 90 countries said that adaptability was the most important leadership quality in these times.”

5. Resolve to get better at fighting procrastination.

Are you locked in a constant battle royale against procrastination? Well, you’re in good company. Psychology Today estimates that 20% of the population are chronic procrastinators. In the past, prevailing wisdom tied procrastination to time management problems. Now, we’re learning it’s more often related to mood and mindset.

Dorie Clark, a marketing strategist and professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, has brilliant tips that are proven procrastination busters.

procrastination

6. Resolve to become a better listener.  

Even the best-positioned leaders can sometimes struggle to listen effectively all the time. Thankfully, awareness goes a long way toward improving the situation. CEO Nancy Duarte recently outlined the four styles of adaptive listening required for the workplace. She also shared pro tips so that anyone can become a better listener—and a more compelling leader.

7. Resolve to get out of your comfort zone more often.

Research shows how getting out of your comfort zone can motivate you to improve in other areas of your life. Cornell Johnson’s Kaitlin Woolley and Ayelet Fishbach of Chicago Booth joined forces to prove that discomfort can be a motivator rather than an obstacle.

“People often see discomfort as a sign to stop pursuing a goal, yet discomfort often means you are making progress,” Woolley says. “We find people can harness discomfort to motivate themselves to achieve important goals.”

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Here’s to hoping these seven career resolutions for 2023 help you kick off the new year with a manageable roadmap for achieving your personal goals. Happy New Year to all!