10 New Year’s Resolutions for Aspiring Leaders

As we advance in our career, it’s not enough to be smart communicators; we’re also expected to serve as trusted advisors to our clients, leaders and teams.

So here are 10 resolutions to help you project higher levels of credibility, authority and influence this year.

General communication

1. Sit down and write a manifesto. Compile a list of strongly held beliefs in your area of expertise. Because you are not in the information delivery business. Your value lies in the hard-won insights and perspective you offer. 

My manifesto includes concepts like, “Stories beat facts and data alone,” “A presentation is a performance” and “You’ve got to win hearts to change minds.”

These and other beliefs form my point of view and act as a framework any time I counsel clients and speak to groups. Don’t overthink it or worry about crafting catchy soundbites — just start by free associating and keep at it.

2. Learn to tell your story. Aim for one that doesn’t just communicate what you’ve done, but captures who you are, where you stand and what you bring to the table.

Because whether you’re interviewing for a job or vying for a promotion or working to earn your seat at the table, you’ll be up against countless candidates who share similar experiences and qualifications. But nobody else has your unique story.

That is how you set yourself apart.

3. Bring passion to your expression. If you’re not excited about what you have to say, then why should anyone else be? Speak up, lean in, and infuse your voice and gestures with energy.

4. Accept compliments gracefully. It’s natural to feel embarrassed by praise, but when we offer rebuttals (“It wasn’t that good!”) or explanations (“I should have said/done …”) we diminish both ourselves and those who are giving the feedback.

Meetings

5. Speak up in meetings. Always contribute something of value. If you feel you have nothing to say, then you’re probably in the wrong meeting.

6. Go into every meeting with a plan. Whether it’s a group meeting or a one-on-one, if it’s important enough to be on your schedule, then it’s worth blocking out five minutes to clear your head and think: Who am I talking to? What’s my goal? What obstacles might stand in the way? How am I going to overcome them?

Reacting on the fly may work on occasion, but you shouldn’t depend on it. Show up prepared, focused and with clear intention.

7. Be positive and constructive. There are times when it’s helpful to play devil’s advocate, but if you’re always the person who throws up obstacles, people will learn to go around you. 

Presentations

8. Don’t play the game of lowering people’s expectations. “I didn’t have time to prepare” doesn’t immunize you from criticism; it infects people’s perceptions of you.

9. As you plan your next big presentation, take a step back. Close the PowerPoint and just talk it out. Start with the context: Why are we here? What’s the situation or problem? How do we plan to address it?

Boil your ideas down to three points and create a call to action: What exactly do you need from this group to go forward?

Then open your PowerPoint and decide whether you need all those slides. Or any at all! Perhaps they can serve instead as a leave-behind or post-presentation discussion doc.

10. Make it a conversation, not a lecture. That means more than just reserving 10 minutes at the end for questions. Ask them questions, invite debate, test assumptions, take a poll or do a role play.

Happy New Year!

Confession time: All of these are issues I’ve worked on at some point in my career. Some of them are “forever” goals — ones I’m always striving to improve on. (Looking at you, numbers 4, 7 and 10!)

It’s a lifelong journey. So pick a few that resonate with you, pledge to work on them in 2024, and start showing up consistently as the leader you are — or that you want to be.