My husband and I went to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” this past weekend. I was dragging my feet when he suggested we go, as I felt like I had a million other things to complete on my “to do” list.  When it was all said and done; however, I was so grateful for my husband’s idea! I’m embarrassed to admit that I’d never watched the entire movie until last Saturday night. I’ve seen so many of the other classics, but this particular movie had somehow escaped me.

Our lives tend to get so hectic, particularly during this time of year. Sitting there, watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” with my husband, I was reminded of how important it is to take a step back and reflect on all that’s happened in my life during the past 12 months. From a work standpoint, this is a great time of year for self-reflection and assessment. What goals did I set for myself at the start of 2011? Did I achieve all of these specific goals? If the answer is “no,” what seemed to stand in my way? 

Every single one of us faces work related challenges during the course of the year. Instead of using those challenges as an excuse for why we weren’t successful in achieving all that we’d set out to accomplish this year, take the time to examine the challenge(s). Ask yourself how you could have potentially overcome the obstacle. Reach out to a trusted mentor and ask for their insights on different ways to break through the perceived “road block.”

Sometimes we are so wrapped up in a particular situation that it’s challenging for us to take a step back and accurately access the circumstances. Reaching out to someone you trust who has an objective view of the situation can offer some incredibly valuable insights. These insights can then be used as you move forward in 2012, set new goals, and face new challenges in the workplace.

Finally, through this reflection process, consider how you’ve impacted other people’s lives this past year. This can be on many different levels. Consider the relationships you have with co-workers. Examine your relationships with clients/customers/vendors. How would you categorize these relationships? Did these different relationships experience any “hiccups” in 2011? Consider not only how you perceive these relationships, but how the other parties would describe working with you. How can you strengthen these relationships in 2012?

Wishing you all a wonderful and safe holiday season! Cheers to fostering a productive and fulfilling workplace for all of us in 2012!

Stephanie Miller, CPC, Aureus Group Senior Account Manager

About the Author Stephanie Miller
Stephanie Miller has worked for Aureus Group for five years. As a senior account manager within the Finance and Accounting division, Stephanie partners with organizations throughout the state of Iowa and provides staffing solutions within the accounting, finance, and human resources departments. With a bachelor’s degree in communication studies fromNebraskaWesleyanUniversity, Stephanie is currently pursuing a master’s degree in negotiation and dispute resolution atCreightonUniversityand is a certified professional consultant.

Stephanie reports that two of the most rewarding aspects of her job is seeing how pleased the client is when she’s successful in identifying a professional who meets the level of experience/skills the company desires for a particular position and also helping a candidate make a successful career change. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband,Chad, and their two dogs, Benny and Olive. She also loves to travel, check out new restaurants, watch movies, run, attend sporting events and theatrical performances, and volunteer through theUnited Waya few times per month.