Our sometimes-turbulent 2009 makes many health promoters hope for a calmer ’10. And while the worst of the recession appears to be behind us, the events of the past 18 months are not aberrations. Change is the only constant. 

You can chart a steady course for the future by staying focused on your own personal leadership. Here are 10 ways to take control:

• Don’t sit back. Action, even if it’s off course, at least gets you moving. If you wait for the perfect time to move you’ll be left behind.
• Embrace risk. It’s the only way to achieve a breakthrough.
• Volunteer. It doesn’t matter what you give your time to – it’s one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself.
• Seek satisfaction. If you lay in bed dreading work each morning, it’s time to move on.
• Ask for help. With your career, your marriage, your children, your boss. You’ll almost always get the help you need.
• Be prepared for good luck. Be open to opportunities. Expect the best.
• Don’t overstay your welcome. It’s best to leave while everyone is still smiling.
• Make mid-course corrections. No matter how well you plan, sometimes you’re wrong or things happen outside your control to make your plan wrong. Admit it, cut your losses, and start in a new direction.
• Try something new or drop something unproductive. Write it on your daily to-do/to-don’t list. Even small things – like a new book, a creative recipe, or boycotting TV – can freshen your outlook.
• Enjoy the ride. Life should be fun.

Management Resolutions…

Check your skills against this list to see how well you’re progressing as a wellness leader:

• Manage people adversity. Health promoters like to be liked. But as a leader you’re sometimes required to make unpopular decisions about people and resources. A successful health promotion manager can make the tough decisions and move forward with self-esteem intact.
• See the big picture. Wellness leaders spend a good deal of time on issues that affect the entire organization, and leave the day-to-day operations to assistants best positioned to sweat the details.
• Teach as well as lead. Many of today’s top health promotion managers learned in the school of hard knocks. Leaders make time to teach aspiring professionals the shortcuts to success.
• Let go of the reins. Top managers allow others to take over successful projects, then move on to new activities that add more value to the organization.
• Champion talent. Confident health promotion managers grab on to rising stars and help propel them to even greater heights within the organization.
• Understand strengths and weaknesses. The best managers strive to be surrounded by individuals with complementary talents who can compensate for shortcomings.

As you prepare for the new year, take time to make an honest appraisal of your management skills. Then make plans to enhance your strengths and shore up your weaknesses.