2012 – your work life resolution

Published in Darwin Life Magazine December 2011 - Alison Hucks, Principal, Avant

“Cheers to a New Year and another chance to get it right” – Oprah Winfrey

Many people at the start of the New Year reflect on their jobs or their career and decide that they will make a change of some sort.  Whether it be to seek a promotion, ask for a pay rise, make a plan to spend less time at work and more time with the family, or to put their skills to better use. Some people decide that this is the year that they will make the leap and leave their current position for another role within another company – some in a new industry altogether.

We all know that most New Year resolutions aren’t acted upon and that those that are often have a poor success rate.

To have reflected on the thought of change in your work life over the holiday period and not act upon it in some way could lead to frustration somewhere in the year ahead.

To have reflected on your work life and to decide that a change is in order – requires further consideration and logical planning.

This is your opportunity to get it right.

Set yourself up for success

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other” – Abraham Lincoln.

This is the time to revisit where you are at in your work life and to set some goals.  By discussing this with another whether it be your partner, your supervisor, your accountant, or all of these you will be able to set realistic goals.

We also recommend that you understand what your primary motivators are for you for deciding on this change.  Is it career, job satisfaction, work-life balance or money?

Our research has shown that the primary motivators for people deciding to make a change in their work-life are:

Career: seeking to further your career; building on professional and/or academic record.

Job Satisfaction: wanting to put all your skills to use; being recognised for your efforts.

Work-life Balance:  reducing the number of hours at work; wanting to work remotely or in school friendly hours

$$: seeking a pay increase to be paid what you perceive to be worth or to find a job with extra monetary compensation to suit your goals.

There are no right or wrong motivators.  All are important and all are interlinked.  At varying times of our lives as we reach the juncture of deciding to make a change in our work life balance. What we put as ranking number one may not be as important a few years later.

Taking the time to consider what it is you really want and why, will help you communicate much more clearly with those that need to know and set you up for greater success.

2012 is the year of the Water Dragon – it is a good time to consider things carefully, to re-evaluate situations and to make smart decisions with the aim of seeing eye to eye with all stakeholders (your boss, your family etc).  However, do note that in this year, as in all others, it is most important to do your research, put first things first, talk to those who may help you including your employer and to stick to your resolve.

For more information contact Avant on 8941 2299 or check out our web site www.avantpersonnel.com.au