We’re a few days into the new year, and you should be taking your first steps toward achieving your goals for 2020. It’s important to consider goals that will help you develop in your role as a leader. Every workplace is different and therefore every leader’s resolutions will be different, but here are a few ideas to help guide your goal-setting efforts.
Focus on employees
A company’s greatest asset is its employees, so it’s in a leader’s best interest to ensure their talent stays around. Studies have shown that employees who are engaged in their companies are as much as 80% less likely to leave than disengaged employees. An investment in ensuring your business is positioned as a preferred employer in your market means you will be better prepared to not only keep your best and brightest, but also attract other top performers. From special perks to performance incentives, there are a multitude of strategies to consider to reward your workforce for a job well done and to maintain their commitment to the success of the company.
Eliminate unnecessary time wasters
Email, meetings, and constant interruptions is the biggest drain on business leader’s time, and you can lose up to nine hours a week due to office clutter. Make a point to do away with unnecessary time wasters. Cut the amount of meetings you have each week or combine several shorter meetings into one. Set aside an hour here and there throughout your week to close yourself off in your office and hang a do-not-disturb sign on the door. You should also get into the habit of only checking your email at specified times to help reduce the risk of being distracted from your tasks at hand. Basically, commit to taking back your wasted minutes and start applying them to more productive endeavors.
Focus on self-improvement
Your employees want to follow a leader they respect and trust to make the best decisions for the company and the workforce. Whether it’s through leadership workshops or self-guided training, investing the time and energy to self-improvement shows your commitment to being a better leader. Your employees will respond if they believe your intentions are genuine and it may even encourage them to follow your example and seek out training and development opportunities for themselves.
Make time to celebrate
It’s a fresh new year with new opportunities to let your hard work and determination shine. As the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success.” So, take some time to celebrate your accomplishments this year. While determination, hard work, competency, and drive are all important factors in success, taking time to bask in the glory of a job well done is just as vital to maintaining a high-performing team. A little celebration here and there can do wonders for employee morale and engagement.
While there are many methods to help ensure new year resolution success, ultimately it is up to you to stay focused and to keep yourself – and your employees – committed to making a change in 2020.
