Ah… It’s that time again. The hustle and bustle of the holidays are over and the time to start anew is here. January marks not only the New Year but also the idea of a “new you.” This fresh start typically includes resolutions. About 60% of the population admits to making them every year while only a staggering 8% actually are successful in completing them. While that 8% can be intimidating as self-doubt may tend to creep in and have even the best of us wondering if we have what it takes be among the greats, the reality is, yes, you do.
When considering workplace resolutions, be careful not to use the term interchangeable with “goals.” Unlike a goal, a resolution is more qualitative than quantitative. Goals have set deadlines and benchmarks that weigh on you, looming in the distance aiming for success and fearing failure. Resolutions, on the other hand, are avenues to improve oneself without the stress and pressure of concrete benchmarks while building character and positivity.
“Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed.”—Cavett Robert
Unlike vague personal resolutions like, save more money, or lose weight, workplace resolutions can be at many different levels (personal, team, or company-wide). Some great workplace resolutions might include:
- Celebrate team success
- Support better work/life balance for the team
- Improve interdepartmental communication
- Create avenues for growth
As you can see, these resolutions still feel personal even in a team/workplace environment and have a qualitative substance to them. To turn any resolution into a success, it’s important to create a system. Unlike a goal which has short-term longevity, a resolution, to truly be successful, requires a maintainable system to put it into place and actively engage all participants.
Every successful process begins with developing a habit. For example, if your team resolution is improving interdepartmental communication, ask teammates to send positive feedback as “reply all” including yourself on the email when working with other departments on projects. A quick “thanks”, “you rock”, or “I appreciate your dedication to this project” goes a long way in building bridges and fostering a sense of open communication. By starting this habit for at least half of every communication, you’ll start to form a positivity habit.
As you see this taking hold, recognize the success. Rewards like team outings, events, or recognition go a long way in encouraging people to get on board with a new procedure to make it into a new habit, and therefore a successful resolution. Taking small steps to make positive changes and rewarding the new habits goes a long way toward resolution success and you and your team earning your rightful place among the 8% of resolutions success for the year.
Learning strategies for success whether they begin January first or February seventeenth, can give any leader the tools they need to help them, and their team set the stage for success. Contact us to learn the skills to take your leadership style to the next level. Great leaders are armed with the tools to create an environment conducive to success whether it be yearly resolutions, team development, or growth opportunities. Take the first step toward greatness today.