You have done it. You have completed another year at your job with hard work, challenges, rewards, and developments. Well, you almost have. The year 2016 is nearly over and 2017 is just around the corner. It is quite normal for professionals across the world to feel a bit overwhelmed at this time of the year. Annual performance reviews are almost due, forecasting and budgeting for the New Year must be done, and any other uncompleted tasks cannot wait any longer. So this is a time when sweats and tears may be seen. But it is also a time of celebration and recognition and for keeping check of your career map and pushing yourself to finish strong.
The end of the year can be an exhausting period for employers and employees alike. But it can also be easily turned into a highly rewarding period that pushes everyone further on the path towards success.
From Bayt.com, the Middle East’s #1 Job Site, here are a few tips to help you maintain control of your work and make the most out of the end of 2016.
1. Do not be intimidated by annual reviews
Although annual performance reviews can be lengthy and demanding and can put you on the spot to explain any shortcomings, they are incredibly important for you as an employee as well as for the business in general. Annual reviews are a great opportunity to highlight your achievements and positive contribution in your job, while also providing you with guidelines for improving and growing as a professional. During your review sessions, you will have the time to share your thoughts and opinions with management, share your own feedback, and ask any questions you may have. You could also use this time to ask for a salary raise if the circumstances are right. But make sure that you know how much to ask for by visiting salary search tools such as Bayt.com salaries. You can also read the Bayt.com guide for acing your annual review to be in the best shape possible.
2. Push but do not overwhelm yourself
According to the Bayt.com poll, ‘Stress in the MENA Workplace’, 77.4% of respondents believe they could perform better if they were given more time. Unfortunately, during this time of the year, you will find that there is less flexibility with deadlines and schedules. You cannot put off those tasks you didn’t want to deal with earlier and the workload may seems larger than normal. It is important to start knocking out items from your to-do list as early as possible. Start with the most critical projects at hand and leave the less demanding tasks for when your energy is not as high. At the same time, feel free to delegate tasks to assistants or junior staff, if available. Otherwise, seek your coworkers and managers for advice and support. They should be there to help you and guide you on the best ways possible to accomplish more. Remember to take breaks throughout the day and to rejuvenate on the weekend so that you maintain an optimal level of performance.
3. Start your plans for the new year
The best part of this stressful time is that it will quickly end. You will have another year to maintain your great performance, learn from your mistakes, grow your skills, and advance in your career. Make sure that you start planning early on. Use the Bayt.com career map if you are considering a career change or relocation, read some of the latest research reports and career support articles to make sure you are well-informed, plan to take some online courses to gain new skills and improve your existing ones, and most importantly make sure that you are on the career path you’ve envisioned. Ask yourself whether you have accomplished what you want, learned what you needed, and performed your best this year. If not, then start plotting your goals and plans to hit those targets in 2017.
