September can be a tease, seasonally. The days are still longer, the temperatures are usually still warmer, and for a few weeks, it can be easy to pretend it's still summer, whatever the calendar may have to say.
It's up to October to usher in that reality check. Summer's officially over, and it's time to start thinking about what you can do to end the year with the strongest possible record. If you're searching for a new job or working towards a raise or a promotion at your current position, hitting pause for the fourth quarter is a big mistake.
"Now's the time to assess where you are, where you've been lax, and where you can start upping your game," says
A few manageable changes now can put you well on your way to where you hope to be professionally at the beginning of 2015.
Williams says that while many professionals save their goal-making for January, it's important to assess what you can do to close out the year on the strongest possible note. If June through August is a slower season for your business, fall is a good time to take a look at what you set in motion over the summer months and what you still need to do to achieve the best imaginable year-end results, both business and career-wise.
"Who are you as a professional? September is a great time to ask yourself that," says Williams. "What do you want to achieve over the course of a new year? Over the coarse of the summer have you not worn a suit? Have you not reached out to new contacts? Have you been coming in late or leaving early? Take a look at who you are as a professional and be honest with yourself."
2) Use the fourth quarter to position yourself on the starting blocks.
The end of the year, with holiday distractions and the sense of wrapping up major initiatives as opposed to launching them, can be a discouraging time for job seekers and those looking to make their mark on a current role.
But actually, says Williams, the end of the year is the perfect time to set yourself up for an expanded role, or a raise.
"Now is the time to take advantage of high profile opportunities, so in the next 30 days you can walk into your boss's office with a real demonstration of your talent and skills set," says Williams. She recommends taking a look at the plans for upcoming projects with a keen eye towards "What's priority? What's important to the company right now?" and focusing on what you need to do to get involved with those key initiatives.
3) Renew your Rolodex: Check in with your contacts. And their contacts.
A check-in after the summer is an easy way to refresh your existing professional relationships and start creating some new ones.
This advice applies equally to everyone--managers, employees, job seekers, etc. Be sure to reconnect with your network before the end of the year, and consider requesting some introductions to new contacts.
"The fourth quarter is all about building relationships," says Williams. "You're going to see a big push of openings after the fiscal year ends, and there will be an influx of opportunity come January 1. This is when you want to get your recommendations, this is when you want to build your contacts."
4) Take a look in the social media mirror--and the real one.
Cooler temperatures (for most geographies) don't just signal time to get the winter coat dry cleaned. Williams says a quick way to shake up your routine before year end can be doing a simple review--and perhaps update--of your professional wardrobe, including considering the last time you wore a suit to the office.
If your work apparel could benefit from a few tweaks--or a full facelift--it's possible your online presence could as well. "Do you need to refresh your LinkedIn profile? Have you updated your skills and your photograph recently?" asks Williams.
Make sure you've kept track of recent accomplishments and ongoing projects, and that a
5) Look beyond your own desktop. Your
If you're a manager, make sure you're not the only one preparing to finish the year on a high note.
"Fall is a great time for impromptu or informal evaluations," says Williams. "You've got these last months of the year to perform. Restating your goals to the team, restating expectations--this is the time of the year to do that."
Your employees' performance will reflect on yours as well, and a reminder of common goals and team strategies can go a long way towards renewing the group's sense of energy and purpose.
"Ask them, what are your goals for the next few months? 'What would you like to see accomplished before you end of the year?' Ask those kinds of questions so you can start engaging and supporting them with inspiration."
6) Set yourself up for success with some work-life priorities.
A big end-of-year push at work might mean dialing back on some things at home temporarily. Williams says fall, when most industries are busy again, is the perfect time to commit to dedicating some extra hours to your career.
"Summer is the time to see your friends, it's light out, you go for drinks after work," says Williams. "Fall is a time to prioritize. You set up your life so that works and that's ok."
In addition to putting work first for the time being, Williams suggests looking into what you can do to keep things running smoothly at home. If you normally do all the grocery/laundry/cleaning tasks yourself, now might be the time to consider outsourcing. Even if you can't afford to add a laundry or grocery delivery service to your budget permanently, investing in those support systems for a month or two will keep your home life orderly and prevent you from wearing yourself out with a few longer days at work.
Some careful planning and strategic communication in the last few months of the year can set you up to break new ground in 2015.
"Now is the time," says Williams, "to lay all the groundwork."
