Start off the new year on the right foot
The end of the year is approaching fast and with that generally comes a lot of pressure. You are probably thinking about all the things you have to get done before the holiday and rushing around to make it all happen.
If you are working on a business or running an organization the pressure can be even more intense, but here are three things you can do to make sure you and your company ends the year on a good note:
- Complete your January “To Do” list – January is just around the corner, and it’s already time for you to plan for next year. It is easy to come through the holidays and find that when you get back to work on January 2nd, you have no idea what you should be working on first. It can take a bit to get fired back up. Creating your list of things you want to get accomplished that first week back, will help you get a head start at the beginning of the year. Also putting pen to paper, helps you get all that important stuff out of your head, so you can simply enjoy the holiday season. Why is planning so important? It helps you keep track of your goals, deadlines, and tasks. It helps you determine what needs to be done first. It gives you an opportunity to reflect on how well things have gone in the past year (or months). And it helps you prepare for what’s coming next. Carve out a little time to do that planning, before you head off…I promise you will thank yourself later.
- Don’t forget to recognize your team – Recognition is a powerful motivator and can help keep your team motivated throughout and beyond the holiday season. The end of the year is a great opportunity for you to show appreciation for their hard work throughout the year, especially if there have been a few bumpy roads along the way. You can also use the end of year as a time to recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond. This could include employees who have exceeded sales goals or helped manage a particular issue that came up during the year. The end of year is also a great opportunity for managers to get together with their teams and talk about what went well, what didn’t go so well, and how they can improve things in the coming year. There are some businesses that get super busy at the end of the year and if this is you, don’t skip this one. Find the time that works best for you and your team for this. Recognition, whether something formal or simply a pat on the back, can go a long way in getting you where you want to go.
- Book in some fun for yourself – It’s the end of the year and there is a lot to do, but don’t forget to book in some fun. It will help you relax, let go of your job and set a good foundation for the coming year. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and can’t get excited about anything, try to think about what makes you happy. Is there something you’ve always wanted to do? Something that would make your heart sing? It doesn’t have to be big – it could just be a day doing some winter activity or going for coffee with a friend or spending an evening at home reading a good book. There is a saying, “all work and no play, doesn’t make for a happy person” and the reality is, it doesn’t make for a productive one either. Find time to free your mind of work and you will find that when you get back to it, you will have new and improved ideas about how to tackle some of you biggest challenges.
Think about it, being a leader in your business or organization doesn’t have an off-season. There’s always something going on and there are plenty of ways to improve your business. If you want to make sure you’re doing everything you can for your company, then check out these three easy steps: booking in some fun, recognizing your team and getting a jump on your next year. Enjoy!
