Korn Ferry Survey

Making a Difference, Finding the Right Organizational Culture Top List of Professionals’ New Year’s Work Resolutions

A new Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY) survey reveals one resolution that tops the New Year’s wish list for professionals – and it’s more desired than a promotion, more pay and better work-life balance combined.

Nearly half of the respondents (41 percent) say creating an impact/making a difference is their leading work resolution for 2020. This resolution far exceeds a raise (8 percent), promotion (5 percent), a better work-life balance (8 percent) and even getting a new job (31 percent).

But achieving that resolution may be difficult. Creating an impact/making a difference ties with getting a promotion (24 percent) as the hardest New Year’s resolutions to attain.

The top reason professionals would look for a new job in 2020, according to the survey, is that their employers’ culture doesn’t fit with their values (38 percent), followed by being bored and needing a new challenge (23 percent).

When asked which New Year’s work resolution would most improve their opportunity to advance at their current employer, the largest percentage (28 percent) say getting assigned to more challenging, high-profile projects, followed by gaining more professional development opportunities (22 percent).

“A lot is being written about change-weary professionals constantly navigating through bewildering complexity. This survey clearly shows that many professionals are not only up for a challenge, but value it as a way to demonstrate they are making a difference in the world,” said Dennis Baltzley, Korn Ferry Global Solution Leader, Leadership Development. “In fact, above pay and promotion, you see professionals exhibiting a growth mindset, seeking to learn and grow.”

The good news: 93 percent of professionals say they would be able to keep a New Year’s work resolution if they made one.

About the survey

The Korn Ferry survey of professionals took place in December 2019 and garnered 645 responses. (note: due to rounding, responses may not equal 100 percent).

Survey Responses:

What would you put on the top of your New Year’s work resolution wish list?
Get a raise		8 percent
Get a promotion		5 percent
Get a new job		31 percent
Better work-life balance		8 percent