Find more meaning in your work in the new year by adopting the "Three Cs" of "community" -- feeling known and respected, "contribution" -- seeing the impact of your work and "challenge" -- identifying ways to grow and those who will support you, write Wes Adams and Tamara Myles, the co-authors of "Meaningful Work." They suggest practices to help cultivate these new habits, such as sharing stories with others, giving positive feedback to your team and complimenting a strength you see in others to encourage their growth.

Put it into practice: Stretch yourself by doing something just slightly outside of your comfort zone, like offering an idea in a meeting or taking on unfamiliar responsibilities, Adams and Myles suggest. "These small expansions build confidence over time."

It's good to get your teams out of their comfort zone, but the goals you set for them can become toxic if you don't provide the necessary resources, frequently change them or team members feel criticized, no matter how hard they work to achieve them, writes leadership development expert Tim Jackson. Focus instead on fewer, bolder goals and provide team members with the resources and encouragement they need to reach them, Jackson advises.

Put it into practice: If you want to give your team more challenging stretch goals, shorten the time horizon, Jackson advises. "If you can see the finish line, anything feels possible. 100-day plan, anyone?"

With AI taking over many writing chores such as email and reports, you can make your communications sound more human by imagining how you might explain something to a friend, or record yourself talking through what you want to say and make your behavior consistent with what you communicate, say several expert speakers and writers. "Mass blasts can feel distant, but messages grounded in an actual relationship sound specific, responsive and personal," writes Jess Zafarris.

Put it into practice: If you want to use AI to help you write, create a style guide to personalize tools like ChatGPT to mimic your writing style and tone, says Stephanie Paterik, editor in chief at The Trade Desk. A style guide, Paternik says, "sets strict guardrails around how strong writing is formed and how ideas flow, so the output stays clear and intentional."