23 career habits to adopt in 2023

Want your career to skyrocket in 2023? Then it’s time to make some changes. Career breaks don’t happen in an instant. It’s a build-up of small habits. And you know what they say? Small habits lead to great success.

So in 2023, focus on adopting these effective career habits to progress your career.

23 habits to further your career in 2023

1. Update your CV regularly

Most people don’t update their CV until they’re ready to look for a new job. But you never know when a new opportunity is going to present itself. So you should update your CV every 3-6 months with both hard and soft skills!

2. Attend networking events

Sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know. Form connections with people in your industry and company. One of the best ways to do this is by attending industry events both online and in-person.

3. Create a LinkedIn profile

Having a LinkedIn profile is a must for career-hungry professionals. Not only is it great for finding new job opportunities, but it’s also another great place to network. 

4. Keep up a healthy work life balance

Too much work will lead to burnout. You need to stay on your A game. And to do that, you have to separate work time from personal time. It’s all about balance.

5. Contribute ideas

One of the best ways to get noticed at work is to contribute ideas. Don’t just leave it up to management. Be the type of employee who volunteers new ideas. 

6. Hit your targets

Commit to hitting your targets. When it comes to targets, you need an attitude of do or die. This is key to getting a promotion of landing a more senior role.

7. Be punctual 

A lot of people fall short on punctuality. If you want to further your career, you need to show up on time to work and meetings. It’s that simple!

8. Offer your support

Be the kind of employee that helps others out. Where you can, support your colleagues with your expertise and time. This is a strong leadership quality that your managers will notice!

9. Show leadership

To land a leadership role, you need to prove yourself as a leader first. So take initiative to lead your team when the opportunity arises.

10. Celebrate others’ wins

A key part of leadership is being able to celebrate others. So if your colleagues are doing well, always congratulate them on their wins.

11. Be a problem-solver

Problems always crop up in business. But the key is to be a problem-solver. If you have to raise an issue, always follow it up with a solution. 

12. Upskill

Get into the habit of constantly upskilling. Take advantage of any training offered at work. Pick up new skills where you can. And enrol into training in your own time. 

13. Avoid gossip

Workplace gossip will always exist. But you don’t have to take part in it. In fact, you’ll do better to keep your head down and mind your own business. Stay professional and get your job done.

14. Ask for feedback

Ask your manager for feedback on a regular basis. This shows you’re willing to learn and develop. Plus, they’ll respect you for taking criticism.

15. Use SMART goals

Setting goals is good. But setting SMART goals is better. Always ensure your goals are:

• Specific
• Measureable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-specific

16. Use a planner

Start using a planner to get the most out of your days. Update it daily to make sure you don’t waste any time or forget important tasks!

17. Eliminate distractions

Get focused when you’re doing important tasks. Turn off your emails and put your phone away. Your projects will get completed quicker and with better quality!

18. Use power hours

Power hours are where you spend 60 minutes fully focused on your most important tasks. No conversation, no phones, no browsing the internet. Just pure focus. 

19. Know when to ask for help

Being successful isn’t about doing everything yourself. We all need help sometimes. So get comfortable asking for help when you need it.

20. Use the 80/20 rule

The Pareto rule says that 20% of your actions lead to 80% of your results. So prioritise tasks that generate the most results. Knowing where to focus your efforts is a huge part of success.

21. Review your own performance

Keep checking in with your own performance on a weekly and monthly basis. You need to know where your strengths and weaknesses lie.

22. Use checklists

Checklists are an easy way to get productive. You can create a checklist for the day, week, and month to make sure you don’t forget any tasks!

23. Think outside the box

Make an effort to think differently to the rest of the group. Try to play devil’s advocate and look at situations from different angles. Companies appreciate employees who don’t fall into groupthink!

2023 is your year!

Success isn’t hard. It just takes consistency. If you adopt these habits, it won’t be long before your career flies.

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