Sounds like a buzzkill to kick off the New Year, but stick with me. While critical can be negative, as in “expressing an opinion when you think something is wrong or bad,” which my husband reports I already do very well, critical can be packed with positive.

Critical means very important, like the work my Purple Ink clients do, and the work I do for them. When a client chooses to work with me on consulting services, their need is critical. And I treat those needs as such. An HR assessment to determine 2019 goals might fall into this space. It can also mean difficult to handle, because a small mistake can have a snowball effect, causing bad things to happen. Again, my clients’ needs can be difficult to handle, whether that is a harassment investigation they need help conducting, a sensitive termination they require assistance with, or outplacement following a layoff.

According to people whose job is to give their opinion of things, critical can mean admiration, like critical acclaim. Now, I’ve not been asked to review any movies or books just yet, but I am asked to provide my HR expertise and professional opinion to help clients make business decisions daily. And I am in the process of writing a new book with my colleagues called The JoyPowered Team. I’m sure it will garner much critical acclaim…thinking positive here!

Lastly, critical means analyzing something closely to determine what the good and bad parts are. This is my focus for 2019. I’m taking an appraisal of what’s important to me, my work, home, family and friends. I’m evaluating what’s good and bad and spending more time on the positive and trying to weed out the negative. I’m examining my heart, my calendar, and my spending because “where your treasure is, your heart will be also.” I must use scrutiny when I accept an invitation to an event, knowing that same time is declining other priorities, and which is most critical?

Critical for me is sometimes saying no, even when I want to say yes. Because in my life, I’m not usually choosing good from bad, I’m choosing between two good things, so being critical is, well, critical. So, considering carefully what’s important in your work-life balance for 2019, what is your word for the year?

Can Purple Ink be of assistance with any of your critical HR goals? Reach out to us today, or to me directly at erin@purpleinkllc.com, if we can be of assistance.

Click here for more on Purple Ink’s 2019 words of the year.