If one of your goals for 2020 is to see a better you, you’ll first have to do a little bit of growing. Self-development takes time and energy, but if you’re committed to improving, you’ll notice profound results — both in your personal life and at work! Here are our tips for developing yourself:

1. Understand what’s driving you. Self-development requires internal motivation, so it often helps to pinpoint what’s at the root of your desire for improvement. So, take an honest look at who you are, how you’re wired, and what you want to get out of the journey.
2. Get to know the people around you. A simple starting point is to ask questions! There is likely someone down the hall or on your team whose job seems interesting to you. Ask them about it! Networking is vital in any healthy career, so put your name and face in the minds of influencers.
3. Isolate a particular skill to master. Someone wise once told us: “We can do anything, but we can’t afford to do everything.” When you’re tackling self-development, it’s impossible to do it all at once. If you focus on just one skill for a certain amount of time (developing better listening behaviors, for example), you’ll be more in tune with your progress along the way.
4. Craft a plan. After you isolate a skill to develop, consider 1) practical ways to apply and improve that skill, and 2) a realistic timeframe for making progress. What is your end goal in 6 months? In 1 year? You can always adjust your plan, but try to keep your sights on the end goal.
5. Get comfortable with discomfort. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: True change happens outside of your comfort zone. If you want to develop, you’re going to have to face a little discomfort. Challenge yourself to take on tasks or assignments that stretch the limits of your abilities.