Make this the year you stop running from you. Discover what you are about. Know what you stand for. Start today. Show the world how unique you are. Be who you really are. Care about something. Find what is important to you. Be the leader you were meant to be. Maximize your authentic voice. Lead.

According to Tara Talbot, former VP of Human Resources at Workopolis, “the reason that most people get hired is the same as the reason most people get fired.” And that reason is personality. I want to add to that and say the same reason most people choose to work for you is the same reason they leave you.

I used to be a goal setting junkie for a very long, long time. I used to equate goal setting with success. Some would say I was addicted to setting goals. I lived under the impression that setting goals meant you have succeeded until I discovered this uncomfortable truth.

Are you feeling frustrated and stuck at work and with your team? It could be because you are too fixated on performance. You may be ignoring the learning and growth opportunities that are in front of you. The uncomfortable things in front of you might be what you actually need to get to the next level of your leadership.

Goal setting is a common prescription most young leaders use when they’re looking to perform at a higher level and grow their careers. There is nothing evil about that. I believe goal setting is how you become who you want to be. Using goals to unlock massive growth in your team seems like a noble thing to do.

I believe being professional, smart, persuasive, fun, and social is not enough to become who you want to be as a young leader and improve the quality of your life and team. Don’t get me wrong. It’s important to be professional, social, smart, and fun. You should strive to be all of those things.