“Action is the foundational key to all success.” – Pablo Picasso
2019 is drawing to a close and for a business leader, plotting next steps should be high on the agenda, to propel each respective team to the next level.
Planning is a quintessential element of business that cannot be ignored. Outlining and executing a plan is pivotal, ahead of writing the next chapter within your company story in 2020.
Are You a Spectator, Or an Active Leader?
Establish what kind of leader you are to lead your team and cultivate change.
Leaders come in different guises; some are active leaders, choosing to incorporate a hands-on approach. Conversely, others assume the role of a spectator, observing from a distance whilst allowing their team the opportunity to work autonomously.
Irrespective of your leadership edge, ask yourself: ‘What do I want my team to achieve this year?’ and more importantly, ‘as a leader, how can I help to accomplish our goals?’
Goal Setting
With a new year fast approaching, business owners are contemplating their moments of success and failure experienced during 2019.
It’s essential to set new goals for your organisation to flourish. A failure to set targets can have a detrimental impact; targets provide clarity for areas whereby you can cultivate your practice and failing to set goals can see your enterprise drift and lose focus.
Irrespective of the size of your business, effective planning is part of a continual process that’s essential for facilitating growth and achieving your goals. Therefore, schedule time to liaise with your senior management team or devote a period where you can ask yourself:
- What goals were set for 2019? Were you successful in reaching your targets?
- How did you accomplish your successes and who helped you to accomplish the positive moments in 2019? What were the energisers for business and you?
- During instances when your business suffered, what prompted the struggle? Were the contributing factors within your control? If so, what could be done to reduce these arising again in 2020? If not, how could you manage the risk of these factors and accommodate for them? What were drainers on the business and you?
- Where did new opportunities to grow your business arise from? What factors aligned that facilitated these? Who on the team rose to help with these opportunities? How did you make the most of these as a leader of the business?
- Therefore, what does the business need to start doing? Stop doing? And continue doing to make the most of the coming year?
The reflection piece provides the opportunity to identify instances whereby you’ve utilised your leadership skills during 2019 and where members of your team have used their strengths. Consider how you’ll recognise and award achievements amongst your team; rewarding the behaviour you want to see supports a positive vibe within the workplace, augments your core philosophy and represses less desirable behaviour amongst your staff.
Moreover, it’s important to adopt a progressive mindset and consider:
- What’s your long-term business plan? Consider how your business looks and feels? What service or product do you provide during your business journey and who are your customers?
- What measures can be actioned in 2020 to instigate change and push your business in the right direction?
- Where will your leadership strengths help your success; how could you apply your leadership edge to make the most of the year? What will be your energisers?
- Where are your leadership risks and how can you mitigate these? Who on your senior team can fill the gap and complement your approach? Who will be your sounding board? What will be your drainers?
- How will your team contribute towards your upcoming goals for 2020? What do you have in terms of capability, resources, strengths on the team? How will you keep them engaged and on the path of possibility?
- Again, reflecting on what the business needs to start doing, stop doing and continue doing to make the most of the coming year and your role in this?
Upon ascertaining your goals for 2020 and contingencies that can be incorporated to deliver your goals, it’s fundamental to share your plans with your colleagues and team members, emphasising sparking engagement.
Moreover, it’s critical to ensure that your plans are skillfully executed and that progress is sustainable; in-depth guidance for each of these four areas will be provided in our upcoming blogs.
Do you need help planning for 2020? Call Co-Creation on +44 7876 024555 to speak with a member of our specialist team, or email us to find out how we can help your business perform to its optimum potential.