This document outlines 12 resolutions for having a great year at work in 2016. The resolutions include creating a goal game plan, communicating effectively, having weekly recognition, becoming a mentor, practicing great work skills like asking questions and improving diversity, empowering your own development, strengthening your team through bonding activities, being purpose-driven, appreciating daily efforts, celebrating special occasions, working on wellness through healthy behaviors, and making work more fun. The document is presented by O.C. Tanner, a company that helps organizations create great work environments through recognition and engagement.

1. 12 RESOLUTIONS
FOR A
GREAT YEAR AT WORK

2. Presented by

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4. Looking to create a different work
experience in the coming year? Follow
these 12 resolutions to discover your
most productive, happy, and engaged
year to date.

5. 12 RESOLUTIONS FOR A GREAT
YEAR AT WORK IN 2016:
• Create a goal game plan
• Communicate effectively
• Have a weekly recognition mission
• Become a mentor
• Practice the great work skills
• Empower your own development
• Strengthen your team
• Be purpose-driven
• Appreciate everyday efforts
• Celebrate special occasions
• Work on wellness
• Make it fun

6. CREATE A GOAL
GAME PLAN
Research shows that people achieve their
goals more quickly and successfully when
theyhave created a realistic plan for how
to get there.
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7. TO GET STARTED, MAKE AN ACTIONABLE
TO-DO LIST BY ASKING YOURSELF:
• What are the first steps?
• Who can you reach out to for unique insights?
• How will you manage your time and check in on progress?
• When is your deadline?

8. COMMUNICATE
EFFECTIVELY
Many office conflicts can be eliminated
through effective communication. Resolve to
be a fair, clear communicator. Whether you need
to listen more or focus on voicing your opinions in turn,
think about your own communication shortcomings
and resolve to tackle them.
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9. HAVE A WEEKLY
RECOGNITION MISSION
Employees of all ages from across the
globe most benefit from meaningful
recognition when it’s delivered once
a week. Make it a priority to reach
out and recognize wins (big and small) at least every
seven days. It will build camaraderie and happiness—
and even empower the team to create more great work.
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10. 4 | BECOME A MENTOR
Whether you take a new employee under
your wing, reach out to a coworker to teach a
new skill, or download your team on the latest
and greatest from last week’s conference,
there are many ways you can spread your
knowledge. Look for opportunities in your
company’s mentorship program.

11. 5| PRACTICE THE GREAT WORK SKILLS
Analyzing over 1.7 million cases of award-winning,
groundbreaking work has led researchers
to five skills as the building blocks of
making a difference and producing
great work.

12. TRY THESE GREAT WORK SKILLS OUT ON
YOUR NEXT PROJECT:
1. Ask the right question
2. See for yourself
3. Talk to your outer circle
4. Improve the mix
5. Deliver the difference

13. EMPOWER YOUR OWN
DEVELOPMENT
Regardless of what your organization offers as
development opportunities, take the reigns to
empower your individual and team’s continued
learning and development. A focus on
development will help you in your role and
demonstrate your care about your team’s
career growth and future potential.
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14. 7| STRENGTHEN YOUR TEAM
Make team building fun and interesting by
incorporating new activities that bring a
sense of unity and teamwork. Encourage the team
to bond and get to know each other better. It
will help them be more trusting and appreciative
at work.

15. 8|BE PURPOSE-DRIVEN
Your organization has a statement of purpose: the
reason why it exists, and how it makes a difference
for the recipients of its work. Make it a resolution
to create a team purpose, too. By highlighting
everyone’s value to accomplishing the
team’s goals, you will encourage a
purpose-driven team dynamic.

16. 9| APPRECIATE EVERYDAY EFFORTS
Whenever the team brings in a big win, everyone
celebrates and congratulates one another. But do
you also say thank you for the daily efforts of your
coworkers? Look for opportunities to give thanks
and appreciate the little efforts
that make a big difference.

17. CELEBRATE SPECIAL
OCCASIONS
Pause to celebrate special occasions and let
the recipient know their unique contributions are
noticed and valued. Make sure to create a calendar of these
special days and hang it somewhere everyone can see.
That way, you’ll always be prepared to celebrate the occasions
that count.
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18. 11| WORK ON WELLNESS
Research shows that incorporating healthy
behaviors makes you more productive
and happy at work. Make a commitment
to initiate a sense of wellbeing into your
team culture by supplying healthy snacks instead
of junk food, holding walking meetings, and
even taking a break to stretch in between
long hours of sitting.

19. 12 | MAKE IT FUN
Whether that means going out for brunch once a month
with the team, hosting fun outings, decorating your
office space in a way that makes you
happy, or just having a more positive
outlook, resolve to have more fun at work.
Your positivity will result in better
camaraderie and teamwork for everyone.

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22. O.C. TANNER AND THE O.C. TANNER INSTITUTE
O.C. Tanner, number 40 on the 2015 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies
to Work For® list, helps organizations create great work environments
by inspiring and appreciating great work. Thousands of clients
globally use the company’s cloud-based technology, tools, awards,
and education services to engage talent, increase performance,
drive goals, and create experiences that fuel the human spirit. Learn
more at octanner.com.
The O.C. Tanner Institute regularly commissions research and provides
a global forum for exchanging ideas about recognition, engagement,
leadership, culture, human values, and sound business principles.

23. WHAT WILL THE
PERFORMANCE REVIEW
LOOK LIKE IN 2016?
EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIES FOR YOUR
REMOTE WORKFORCE
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KEY INSIGHTS FROM
HR TECH 2015
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EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
5 Everyday Objects
that are the Result
of Great Work
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