Anyone else feeling the weight of closing out 2019 and diving into 2020? I’ve been teetering between vacation mode and wanting to get a jump start on 2020. Then I realized 2019 has been a big year, culminating in the successful launch of my consulting firm Leadership Savvy — which is when it hit me: my lessons are right in front of me, learnings that got me here. Here are 8 tips that will serve as my guideposts to confidently lead me (and hopefully you) into 2020.
Flex like your GPS
Today’s navigation systems adjust in real time to worsening or improving road conditions up ahead. A coaching client told me recently she realized her need to have everything mapped out has been her excuse to never getting started. Take a note from your GPS: know you have options and that it’s ok to just get on the road and adjust along the way.
Lean into your strengths
Sound advice, but I didn’t really understand what it meant for my career until recently. A few years ago I was at the top of my field yet feeling stuck and frustrated. My Strengths Finder 2.0 results said I was a “futurist” and “maximizer.” No wonder I was happiest improving the systems in which I worked in. This was the answer I needed to find roles that would allow me to lean into those strengths. Today it means helping leaders and their organizations position themselves for the future by maximizing their resources to reach real, lasting results.
Don’t go it alone
Walk in pairs. Strength in numbers. Wise words I’ve always received, especially being a 5 foot tall woman of Chinese descent (if you’re one of these, you know what I’m talking about). Well the truth is no matter where you are on your career journey it can feel awfully lonely. Being an independent consultant now, I cherish my professional contacts to stay connected, motivated, find support, and give back, because don’t forget, friendship is a two-way street.
Know when to say no
I’m that person, always alert, ready to help. Yet over the years I’ve had to learn how to say no. Recently I received feedback unprompted: “I admire how clear your are on when to say no and when to dive in.” She thought I was so decisive. Wow! I’m usually the one who can’t decide what to order at a restaurant. Thankfully when it comes to work, I’ve learned I’m just one person. To get a big task done I need to be clear on I can accomplish and what I’ll need to partner with others on. In the end it’s more fun to celebrate the wins together anyways.
Have confidence
When I was at a career turning point recently, a friend (who is a successful business owner) asked me, “Are good at what you do? What is it that people pay you for?” I immediately knew what he meant. I have value — specific skills and expertise that are marketable and useful. Once I realized I am confident in the services I can provide, I found myself on a clear and successful path to launching and running my own consulting business.
Eat lunch
One of the things I miss most about working in an office is going to lunch with colleagues. We’d stop by each other’s desks each day to ask about lunch plans. This wasn’t just about refueling, but also taking care of each other. Now that I work remotely, I have to take extra effort to ensure I take a lunch break. It is vital to self care and to maximize my lunches, once a week I make it a lunch date with the hubby and another day, lunch with someone I’m eager to network or stay connected with.
Get organized
There’s nothing worse than the feeling you’re dropping the ball. Gain control by acing your organization game. For me, my most beloved tool is my google calendar and my mantra is “organize then forget.” Sounds scary, but it works! I schedule my to-dos for the upcoming hours, days, weeks, or months and then stop worrying about them, knowing that I’ve already set aside time to address them later. If something unexpected comes up (it always does), I move my tasks back on my calendar. You quickly learn that you can only get so much done in one day — you become more realistic and much better at prioritizing.
Be kind to yourself
There is so much pressure today for us to do more, be more. True, life is full of opportunities but don’t let that spoil what you have at the moment. When I had my daughter, I was worried about balancing baby with career. A mentor told me we have phases in our lives. Don’t try to do all things at once. She was right, I was able to focus more on my family during that phase and when my daughter started school I was able to take the plunge and start my own company. One important note I’d add from a recruiter perspective. Don’t drop 100% of your career. Keeping engaged and connected, even at a lower level is critical to being able to bounce back.
Thank you for joining me on my Lessons for 2020 reflection. What resonated with you? What lessons are you bringing into 2020? Establishing these will serve as a foundation that you can build upon for 2020. Have fun and let me know what works for you!
