For many, the start of a new year brings a desire to set new goals – both professionally and personally. As you reflect on the past year, try to pinpoint areas you’d like to work on. Check out What’s Your Plan: Six Steps to Align Your Goals with What’s Important to You if you don’t know where to start. You’ll learn how creating a personal strategic plan can provide a “vision and structure for your professional life and an anchor for you to connect with during periods of change.”

Review the common work-related goals below to see if any resonate with you, and use the articles and learning opportunities provided by HR’s Organization and Professional Development (OPD) department to help you reach them.

• Improve time management, organization, and/or productivity:
  • Articles:
    • Time Management: Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time
    • Time Management: The Pareto Principle (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
    • Time Management: Eat the Frog
    • Time Management: Pomodoro Technique
    • Are you procrastinating? Increase motivation and take action with these simple steps
    • Cultivating and Maintaining Good Habits
  • Learning Opportunities:
    • Ready, Set, Change!  (2026 Session Dates Coming Soon)
    • The Power of Habit | (2026 Session Dates Coming Soon)
    • Getting Things Done | February 10 – February 12
    • Cultivating Good Habits | Anytime | elevateU
• Feel more fulfilled or happy at work:
  • Articles:
    • Turn the Job You Have into the Job You Want with Job Crafting
    • Happiness, Well-Being, and Psychological Wealth
    • Feeling Stressed? Consider Your Sphere of Influence
    • Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
  • Learning Opportunities:
    • Everything DiSC: Behavior Styles at Work (2026 Session Dates Coming Soon)
    • Creating and Sustaining a Positive Workplace | Wednesday, June 24, 2026
    • Staying Engaged and Motivated | Anytime | elevateU  
• Have better life/work integration:
  • Articles:
    • Tips to Establish and Maintain Healthy Boundaries
    • Unplugged: Tips to Disconnect from Work and Enjoy Your Vacation
    • Your Mental Health and Well-Being Matter
  • Learning Opportunities:
    • Creating and Sustaining a Positive Workplace | Wednesday, June 24, 2026
    • Breaking Free From Stress | (2026 Session Dates Coming Soon)
• Move into a supervisor or leadership position:
  • Articles:
    • Ready to Lead
    • The Value of Meaningful Work
    • Performance Excellence Strategic Goal Setting: Tips for Supervisors
    • Bring Meaning and Joy to the Employee Experience Through Job Crafting
    • Want greater power and influence? Establish trust and credibility
    • Leading Strategic Planning
    • Positive Boundaries
    • Unmasking and Addressing Unprofessional Behavior
    • Measuring and Improving Employee Engagement
  • Learning Opportunities:
    • New Leader Development Series | February 17, 2026 (Applications Due December 15) 
    • Engaging and Empowering Teams | (2026 Session Dates Coming Soon)
    • Everything DISC: Management | (2026 Session Dates Coming Soon)

As you think about what you want to work on in the coming year and beyond, consider tying them to your Performance Excellence goals (for support staff). For more information about how to set yourself up for success as you identify goals, check out this When SMART Meets HARD: Setting Goals that Matter article.