Thinking of New Year’s Resolutions?  Here’s Some Ideas for Managers

January 05, 2015, by HR à la carte | Performance Management

Many of us put together New Year’s resolutions for our private life – exercise more, eat healthier, spend more time with friends and family.  But how many of us put together a list of resolutions for our work life?  Here are some ideas to get you started:

1.Review your 2014 accomplishments and misses and determine the key learnings from both

If you want to avoid making the same mistakes you made in 2014, you need to reflect on the past year and figure out what went right and what went wrong and why.  Then ensure you build your key learnings into your 2015 strategy.  It’s a good idea to involve your team in this exercise as well.  They will have points of view and input you may miss on your own.

2.Put together a list of realistic goals for you and your team for 2015

Ensure you incorporate your key learnings from #1 to help build your goals for 2015. Ensure your goals are SMART. 

• Specific: The goal clearly describes a specific outcome or result.
• Measurable: The goal defines how success is accomplished. If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.
• Agreed To: Both the manager and the employee should be aligned as to what the goal is and what other resources are needed to accomplish it.
• Realistic: The goal is a stretch but yet is realistic and attainable.
• Time-Bound: The goal can be tracked and is based on a defined timeline.

3.Read at least one new business book a quarter (or more often if you can)

It’s tough to be innovative if your thinking has become stale.  Kickstart your creativity by investing time in at least one new business book per quarter.  If time is definitely a constraint you can sign up for a business book executive summary service such as  The Business Source.

4.Get into a routine of thanking your employees

Employees that feel appreciated are more likely to stick around when times get tough and do that extra little bit for you.  Here’s 7 quick, easy and inexpensive ways of recognizing your employees.

5.Get rid of your problem employees

This is probably the #1 thing managers procrastinate about.  If you are, it is costing you in productivity, both in terms of the problem employee’s and the team in general.  Do yourself and your team a favour and act now.  Not sure how?  Talk to an HR professional about your options.

6.Ask your employees how you can be a better manager to them

We all have blind spots as managers.  What better way to address them than to ask for feedback from the people you lead?  Be prepared for the answers you will get (you may not like or agree with them all) and vow to act on at least 2 of them to become a better manager in 2015.

7. Incorporate a new productivity app into your repertoire

I just learned about Yapp and am looking forward to using it in the next few months.  It’s an Event Management app that allows you to create a simple custom-made app for your event. There are so many apps out there and so little time to figure out what’s what.  Ask around and find out what your peers are using and see if there’s a little gem out there that’s right for you and will make your life easier.

8.Strive for daily incremental change.

Sometimes resolutions are all about the BIG things.  Make a resolution to change something daily that is within your control.   Maybe it’s as simple as making a conscious effort at not getting angry or frustrated behind the wheel during your daily commute so that your day starts off on the right foot each day.  After all, it’s the daily habits we form that propel us forward on our journey to accomplishing the big stuff.

Further reading:

Successful New Year’s Resolutions via Smart Goals

6 Steps to Help with Work Life Balance

5 Tips for a Smoother Termination