Berger Leadership Blog

As we enter a new year (and a new decade), now is the perfect time to reflect on where you're at in your career. Where do you want to be short-term and long-term? How do you plan to get there?

For those looking to strengthen their leadership skills, a recent post on Business2Community – an online platform for business professionals to connect – outlines 10 ways to do so in 2020:

1. Prioritize your physical health. When we get busy, it's easy to hunker down in our office. We want to get as much done, and we don't want to be away from our phone or computer if something breaking happens. But, working out – even just taking a walk over lunch – is critical in keeping your mind sharp and body healthy.
2. Change the way you think. We're creatures of habit, but the new year is a perfect time to consider which habits might be hindering your personal and professional growth. Find opportunities to reduce stress and don't get hung up on problems. Keep yourself in a problem-solving mindset.
3. Choose the right attitude. Each of us have bad days. But as a leader, your employees look to you to set the tone. If it's a negative tone you're setting in the office, chances are your organization's culture and productivity will suffer as a result. Take a breath and refocus when negativity hits.
4. Manage your time effectively. There's never enough time to get all that we want done – this is where strong time management and delegation come in. Stop holding unnecessary meetings – or restructure them so that they're effective – and use this end-of-day checkout to transition from office life to home life. If procrastination is a problem, understand why you are putting off certain tasks.
5. Connect to your passion. Keeping employees engaged should be a top goal for all leaders. But what's keeping you engaged? Be sure to acknowledge your roles and responsibilities that get you excited to come to work. For those that are less exciting, find ways to reframe your mind so you can see how they connect to the bigger picture and allow you to do what you love. Or cut them if they're unnecessary.
6. Create your future. Successful people have a vision of where they want to go in life. Without an idea of where you're going, you'll wander aimlessly through your career and likely feel anxious because of the uncertainty.
7. Set goals and create an action plan. Once you have your vision for success, take stock of what's needed to get there. It might be furthering your education or obtaining certifications, meeting with a mentor, or taking a leap and applying for a new job or promotion.
8. Develop your support system. It might be cheesy, but we all need cheerleaders in our lives – people who will encourage you, listen to you, and give you honest feedback and advice. Commit time to your relationships with family, friends, and peers to receive the support you need, and be there to support them, too.
9. Stop competing with others and focus on bettering yourself. A healthy dose of competition can motivate us. Role models set great examples and can help you determine your path to success. However, keeping score with others and comparing yourself to their status can lead to insecurities, therefore lowering your performance. Stay confident in yourself and your abilities.
10. Take action. Success requires hard work. Don't let the uncertainty of the future hold you back. Set your vision, set your goals, and get to work.

Leadership requires intentional effort to grow your organization and support your employees, but don't lose sight of your personal goals and where you want to take your career. These tips will put you on the right path to success.

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