Soar yourself into the new year with these high-performance tips and end the year with a bang!

It’s the beginning of a new year—the perfect time to equip ourselves with a toolkit that propels us toward success. Excelling in public health consulting requires more than wishing yourself a happy new year. It demands a strategic approach and a commitment to high performance and excellence. Here’s the ultimate guide for excelling as a public health consultant in 2025. This powerful toolkit encompasses education, networking, technology, and self-care, ensuring a year of growth and achievement.

1. Set Yearly Goals

Goals give purpose to your efforts; make them your guiding star. 

Set clear and achievable goals for the year. This provides direction and motivation, helping you measure your progress. Outline key activities you want to achieve in 2025. Create a plan for them. Overcome the challenge of overwhelming goals by breaking them into smaller, manageable tasks. Develop key performance indicators and milestones for each activity. Measure your progress and revise your plan as needed.

Stay focused on your goals. As a busy consultant, you can have distractions-intrinsic or extrinsic. Be flexible with your plans and how you implement them to avoid distraction. Revise your plans and strategies to reflect your reality and implement them at any time. Don’t be too casual or rigid, either, or else you will procrastinate or self-sabotage. There are many resources and tools out there for goal-setting. Pick your choice and use them.

2. Education and Training

To excel in your field, never underestimate the power of ongoing education. 

Whether through online courses, workshops, or certifications, continuous learning enhances your skills and keeps you at the forefront of industry trends. The benefits are multifold: heightened expertise, improved problem-solving abilities, and increased adaptability to change. Overcome the challenge of time constraints by prioritizing learning objectives and incorporating them into your routine. Invest in professional development to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. Consider it an investment in your professional growth.

3. Professional Memberships and Conferences

As a public health consultant, joining professional communities and attending conferences broadens your network and exposes you to diverse perspectives. Allocate funds for joining relevant professional associations and attending industry-specific conferences, which can provide networking opportunities and access to valuable resources. The benefits extend beyond knowledge sharing; it opens doors to collaboration, mentorship, and potential career opportunities. Overcome the accessibility challenge by exploring virtual events and engaging in online forums. Your network is your net worth, so invest in it wisely.

4. Tools and Software

In 2025, be tools- and software-friendly.  Embrace the right tools and software to streamline your work processes. Whether it’s project management, data analysis, or communication tools, technology enhances efficiency and effectiveness. Overcome the challenge of learning new tools by dedicating time to training and gradually integrating them into your workflow. Technology is a game-changer; make it work for you.

5. Content Creation

Writing may not be your thing. But it should. Writing, like other skills, is learnable over time. The more you write, the better a writer you become. You have much to write about as a consultant with many years of work experience and acquired skills. Your insights matter; let the world hear them. Create valuable content and share it with your audience, clients, or network. Share your expertise and establish yourself as a thought leader through blog posts, articles, or short videos showcasing your knowledge and contributing to your professional brand.

Writing can sometimes be daunting, especially if done over a long period. Overcome the challenge of finding time to write by scheduling dedicated content creation slots in your calendar. There are so many content management tools out there. Go to town and pin one that suits your type of writing and workflow.

6. Public Speaking

There we go again with public speaking. Public speaking for a development professional? Yes. You need it.  Mastering the art of public speaking elevates your influence and impact as an industry expert. Effective communication is valuable when presenting to your team in meetings, speaking to funders, or speaking at events. Agreed—we all have the fear of public speaking. Even the experts in the game are afraid if they talk. They code it as being “nervous.” But it’s fear in disguise. The good thing is that they have mastered the art and science of overcoming fear when it appears. You can, too.

Overcome the challenge of stage fright by practicing regularly and seeking feedback. Start by talking to yourself and recording. Hear your voice and see how it feels. Then, move on to videotaping yourself to see how you look and act when you speak. Keep refining yourself. Ask for feedback from others. Then, set out into the world by talking to an audience through any medium. Watch yourself grow into a great speaker. Your voice has the power to inspire change; use it wisely.

7. Prioritize Self-Care

It is said that you can only achieve as much as you are healthy.

Don’t forget to prioritize self-care in the hustle and bustle of work. Have you ever had so many well-planned activities you intended to do but couldn’t execute because your health was not optimal or you were outright ill? I find that very frustrating. Overcome the challenge of busy schedules by viewing self-care as non-negotiable. Be a healthy and high-performing person.

High-performing professionals know the importance of investing time and resources in health and well-being. Caring for your well-being is crucial, whether you are eating healthy food, exercising, meditating, or taking small breaks. Be self-aware of your mental health, too. It is often overlooked, delayed, or missed.

8. Celebrate Your Wins

Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. 

I was a novice to this until recently, when I decided to start appreciating little wins. While I’m the first to enjoy and celebrate others, I was too modest to self-appreciate myself. Even when the thought springs up, I discard it quickly. When I started celebrating my “small wins,” things changed. I began to feel better about myself. It feels good to feel like I have improved or am progressing.

Reflecting on success fuels motivation and reinforces positive behavior. Keep a success journal or performance tracker to overcome the challenge of overlooking wins. Celebrate progress; it’s the key to sustained momentum.

As you embark on the journey of 2025, remember that success is a journey, not a destination. Take a moment to reflect on your goals for 2025 and commit to integrating these tools into your professional journey. This toolkit is a compass guiding you towards continuous improvement and impactful achievements. Now, seize the opportunity to elevate your professional journey. Equip yourself, embrace challenges, and celebrate victories. Share your aspirations and insights with your network, fostering a growth and support community. Let’s make 2025 a year of unprecedented success together.

Here’s to a year of growth, fulfillment, and success!