New Year’s day has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to make resolutions for the coming year. Some of us will want to become better people or take on more of a leadership role in our careers, but we might not necessarily be equipped to get there yet. Allow me, if you will, to suggest a particular set of resolutions (courtesy of HBR) that can help you in both endeavors.

Find a trustworthy mentor
A good mentor should do more than just tutor you professionally; they should be someone who you jive with intellectually/emotionally and is genuinely committed to your development. If you want to become a great leader and not just a great businessman, then find mentors who you admire for their character as much as their success.

Form a leadership development group
While this may sound both parts corny and daunting, all you’re really doing is creating a confessional of sorts for you and a small group of people. Think of it like soul searching in more of a group context where everyone takes on the role of both confessor and confessee. Sharing challenges and honest feedback with a regular group can do wonders.

Volunteer in a civic or service capacity
Volunteering offers an opportunity to forge lasting connections with your community and offers you an opportunity to serve others in a meaningful way. It’s a good way to make sure that you stay humble and keep your roots close to the ground.

Work or travel abroad
In our interconnected world, cultural literacy is a must. Few things will give you perspective faster than being a stranger in a strange land. Knowing how to collaborate effectively across cultural barriers is key to being a successful leader.

Ask more questions than you answer
No one person has the answers to life’s tough questions. Collaboration in the pursuit of better solutions is what drives the formation of many companies in the first place. As a leader, it’s important that you’re able to ask the right questions and frame them in a way that’s easy for your team to understand. That way, your team can focus on finding solutions rather than trying to identify the problem.

Inspired by Harvard Business Review’s 5 Resolutions for Aspiring Leaders.

Photo: used under CC license.