Are you looking for a way to make yourself stand out from the other employees within your current organization? If so, you might want to consider making a few New Year’s resolutions that will help you become a more effective and productive employee. Here are 8 New Year’s resolutions for you to consider – all of which will help you become the employee that both you and your employer would like you to be.

New Year’s Resolution for Employees #1: Work Smarter

The first New Year’s resolution you should make in order to become a better employee is to simply work smarter. Try to identify three things that you can do more effectively and efficiently. Then, work toward streamlining your current process so you can save time and possibly money for your company. Pay particularly close attention to things that may be interrupting your work on a regular basis, such as returning phone calls, checking emails and dealing with office walk-ins. By setting aside a specific chunk of time each day for each of these tasks, you may be able to work more efficiently throughout the rest of your day.

New Year’s Resolution for Employees #2: Increase Your Professional Network

You can also work more effectively and efficiently by increasing your professional network, so make it a New Year’s resolution to get to know more people within your industry. Take the time to get to know the people who are already in your network as well as those who you add to your network by learning about their skills, interests and abilities while also sharing this information with them. Finding ways to interact with people within your professional network can be mutually beneficial if you take the time to foster those relationships.

New Year’s Resolution for Employees #3: Make Yourself Irreplaceable

When it comes down to it, you need to make yourself an irreplaceable member of your company. Otherwise, you may find yourself without a job when your company’s budget gets tight. Obtaining specialized training is a great way to achieve this New Year’s resolution.

New Year’s Resolution for Employees #4: Improve Your Relationship with Others

Another New Year’s resolution for you to consider making is to find ways to improve your relationship with other employees as well as with your boss. If you are unhappy with the management skills of your boss, find ways to express your concerns in a positive manner. For example, asking your boss to provide you with more supervision, responsibility, freedom or authority is a great way to express your concerns without placing blame on the boss.

New Year’s Resolution for Employees #5: Join a Committee

You can go a long way toward improving your skills, increasing your professional network and making yourself irreplaceable by becoming part of a committee or task force. Therefore, another New Year’s resolution you might want to make is to join at least one committee or task force this upcoming year. Try to expand yourself beyond your immediate group so you can get to know other people and show off your abilities and skills while also gaining a broader understanding of the goals and issues your company is facing.

New Year’s Resolution for Employees #6: Participate in a Self-Improvement Seminar

Another one of your New Year’s resolutions should be to participate in a self-improvement seminar that is related to your job in some way. With the help of a seminar, you can become re-invigorated while also being inspired to think outside of the box in order to find creative solutions to the issues your company is facing.

New Year’s Resolution for Employees #7: Develop Goals for Growth

Failure to grow and to change will quickly lead to boredom while also making you less valuable to your employee. As such, another New Year’s resolution you might want to make is to develop goals that will help you grow as an employee. Consider your long-term career goals and then set three goals to achieve this year that will help you achieve that ultimate goal.

New Year’s Resolution for Employees #8: Evaluate Your Contributions

When making New Year’s resolutions, it is also important for you to take a closer look at your overall strengths and limitations. This way, you can find ways to better utilize your strengths while also finding ways to improve your skills in the areas where you are weak.