Career Resolutions for 2021

For many, 2020 has brought a lot of personal and professional challenges. As the new year approaches, consider setting the following career goals along with your personal resolutions. 

5 Resolutions for a better career life in 2021

1. Cut down your response time on emails and returning phone calls. Success in Corporate America is measured by responsiveness and results. Many younger professionals focus on the results, but not the responsiveness. Note, responses don't have to be a full deliverable, just acknowledging the prompting email or call in a timely manner is key.

2. Commit to at least one new "networking moment" per week. A networking moment can be an email or phone call with someone in your network with whom you do not regularly communicate. The goal is to keep your contacts up-to-date and relevant. These moments will lead to other follow-ups and discussions, but those don't count towards the weekly goal. At the end of 2021, you should have reached out to 52 contacts. 

Around the Web: Maintaining Professionalism In The Age of Black Death Is….A Lot

Today's Around the Web is a Medium article by Shenequa Golding that I could barely get through reading without crying, because I have not been able to confront my feelings about the world I have to live and work in. Prior to the COVID shutdowns, I lost two close relatives, and I kept working. The world came to a standstill, death and illness seemed omnipresent, and we were all forced indoors, and I kept working (my work increased). This past week, something finally broke there was no more denying and pushing through all of my feelings. I cried and worked and cried. One of the biggest threats to Black achievement, and even existence, in Corporate America, is the unspoken requirement that Black workers compartmentalize and suppress the challenges of existing while Black in a system designed for racists by racists. 

Shenqua Golding's article captures this feeling:

"We’re biting our tongues, swallowing our rage and fighting back tears to remain professional because expressing that hurt caused by witnessing black death is considered more unprofessional, than black men and women actually being killed."

Read the full article here.

Around the Web: Get Clever about Working from Home

Clever Girl Finance presents "How to Work From Home: 10 Tips to Stay Productive" and here are a few of our favorite tips from the post:

Create your list of goals for the day

"Having a list of goals or workday priorities can help improve your focus and in turn your productivity. Sometimes work tasks can be overwhelming and so it's a good idea to make a list of the top 3 to 5 work tasks you need to get done each day.

Doing this will keep you on top of your tasks and remind you of what you need to get done within your designated work hours."

Authenticity: Who You are is Non-Negotiable, by Caroline Wanga

Caroline Wanga shares her insights on authenticity in the workplace and beyond.