5 New Year resolutions that can help your career to grow in 2020

It's that time of the year again. We will be bidding goodbye to a year and welcoming a new one. It's the time to recall the lessons we learned from past mistakes and be grateful for the rewards we got for things we did right. Also, a lot of people would be looking forward to the next year with a promising list of New Year resolutions. We will list down things that would make us a better person, a stronger version ourselves. While many will be charting resolutions that will shower them with health, wealth and prosperity, there will be a few who would look forward to better work-life habits that would bring in career growth and most importantly, financial prosperity. So, let's look a few changes, or resolutions, that would help you become a valued-employee and increase your chances of advancing your career.

Are you one of those employees who work hard throughout the year yet fail to get a good appraisal while your not so efficient co-worker takes home the trophy? Ah! Did you just say 'yes'? Because a lot of time we work hard to achieve our goals but don't work on our personal branding. It's important to build your brand as the person who gets things done rather than being the obscure workhorse who gets things done but no one notices him. Build your image in such a way that every time an important project lands in your team's plate, your boss should take your name first and no one else's.

As the year approaches its end, ask yourself this question—do you want to be a smart worker or a hard worker? When we are part of a team, we have a lot of things (read projects) on our plate. Some projects take up a lot of efforts like answering calls, constant mailing etc. And some projects help you build the foundation of a long and fruitful career. Hence, it's important to invest your sweat, blood and energy on projects or work that will pay (think salary and career growth). A lot depends on what you choose to be on your plate. So, choose wisely.

Predictability is the worst enemy of progress. If you are too predictable and have grown fond of your comfort zone, you need to break free from it. If you want to grow professionally in 2020, make this as one of your workplace resolutions—to get out of your comfort zone and so something new. For example, if you are the kind of person who shies away from public speaking, try to take this up as a challenge and next time there is a work-related conference, challenge yourself to be a speaker there. When you do something new, you also get noticed by your co-workers and boss, which definitely is good for your career, isn't it?

Being a 'yes boss' person would help little to pave the way for professional success. The famous Indian IT industrialist and the co-founder of Infosys N R Narayana Murthy had once said, “Love your job, but never fall in love with your company because you never know when the company stops loving you.” Be true to your work and be sincere. Do not take up work just to impress your boss or just agree to do something only to earn brownie points. Because in the long run, brownie points from a boss won't help you grow, but your dedication, sincerity and hard work would definitely do.

There is no shortcut to success and only performance leads to recognition, right. So, no matter how much networking you do or win your colleagues and boss' heart with your sweet nature, at the end of the day, you would not grow professionally if you fail to perform. So, set goals and work hard to achieve those. Don't miss deadlines and be the best at whatever you do.

(All images used here are representational)