With every new year, we’re faced with excitement at the open slate ahead of us. If you’re thinking about the next steps in your career, we’ve collected some resources to help you achieve your goals—whether you’re trying to become a better leader, more creative thinker, or more compelling storyteller, we’re here to support you.

If you want to grow into a better leader...

• Start by reflecting on where you’re at your best as a leader

• Understand that leadership is not about having all the answers

• Gain some leadership lessons from IDEO founder David Kelley

• Learn how to inspire creative work from IDEO’s Chief Creative Officer

• Don’t forget to always ask for feedback and be present

• Take our Leading for Creativity course

If you want to become more playful…

• Try these 5 behaviors to fuel more play, from IDEO Play Lab Founder Brendan Boyle

• Recognize that playfulness and creativity goes beyond the kids’ table

• Use these creative warm-ups with your team

• Build psychological safety and trust, so everyone can let down their guard

 

If you want to become more collaborative…

• See how Cultivating Creative Collaboration Instructor Mike Peng leads collaborative teams

• Find out in which phase of the collaborative process your teammates thrive

• Start with empathy to achieve better teamwork

• Take our Cultivating Creative Collaboration course

 

If you want to level up in your career...

• Create your master plan

• Design your work life

• Embrace an unapologetically ambitious mindset

• Consider your future self

  

If you want to make change in your organization...

• Learn how IDEO Partner Owen Rogers approaches change within organizations

• Build the capacity for change

• Learn how to overcome barriers to innovation

• Identify your change journey

• Read about the power of taking strategic risks from NASA and SpaceX

• Take our Designing for Change course

  

If you want to become a better storyteller…

• Be playful and authentic

• Avoid these 7 deadly sins of storytelling

• Try these 5 tips from Storytelling for Influence Instructor Jenn Maer

• Hone your presentation skills

• Practice storytelling as much as you can!

 

If you want to be more creative…

• Reflect on why creativity is more important than ever

• Accept that creativity is a never-ending journey

• Harness the most powerful tool, curiosity

• Ask great questions

• Use our 7 simple rules of brainstorming

• Make time for creative work

• Tap into these 8 design abilities of creative problem solvers

• Learn from our IDEO U co-founders on how to get more creative at work

• Use this quick warm-up to get into the creative headspace

• Find inspiration outside of your context

• Overcome these 3 creative blocks

• Learn from former VP of Design Innovation and Strategy at Procter and Gamble Claudia Kotchka

• Understand that creativity is at the core of being human

  

If you want to be more empathetic…

• Try these empathy exercises from Jane Fulton Suri, who founded IDEO’s practice of human-centered insights

• Tap into the art of the insight

• Turn empathy into your secret strength

• Take our Insights for Innovation course

• Become a better conversationalist

 
We hope these resources were helpful! Regardless of your resolution, don’t forget to maintain momentum.

 

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